Japan Rapid Response Bank of Japan will lift its policy rate this month In response to a hawkish speech by Governor Ueda today, we now expect the Bank of Japan to lift its policy rate to 0.75% at its upcoming meeting that ends on 19 th December instead of our previous... 1st December 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Retail Sales & Industrial Production (Oct. 25) Strong increases in industrial production and retail sales in October suggest that Japan’s economy at least stopped contracting this quarter. 28th November 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Labour Market (Oct. 25) & Tokyo CPI (Nov. 25) With the labour market still tight and inflation excluding fresh food and energy set to remain above 3% for now, the Bank of Japan will resume its tightening cycle over the next couple of months. 27th November 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Consumer Prices (Oct. 25) With inflation excluding fresh food and energy remaining above 3%, it won’t be long before the Bank of Japan resumes its tightening cycle. 20th November 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan GDP (Q3 2025 Preliminary) The fall in GDP last quarter further reduces the chances of a BoJ rate hike in December but we still think that the Bank will resume its tightening cycle at its January meeting. 17th November 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Labour Cash Earnings (Sep. 2025) Although wage growth picked up a notch in September, regular earnings growth remained lacklustre. That said, if we’re right that next year’s spring wage negotiations will result in a strong lift in... 6th November 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Industrial Production, Retail Sales & Labour Market (Sep. 25) The September activity data suggest that the contraction in Q3 GDP may be milder than we had anticipated and the economy should return to growth this quarter. 31st October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Bank of Japan Meeting (Oct. 25) The Bank of Japan signaled continued concerns about the impact of higher US tariff when keeping policy settings unchanged today and we’re sticking to our forecast that the next rate hike will only... 30th October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Flash PMIs (Oct. 25) While the composite PMI softened in October, it still points to a healthy expansion in economic activity. 24th October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Consumer Prices (Sep. 2025) Although underlying inflation softened somewhat in September, our sense is that there is still a strong case for the Bank of Japan to resume its tightening cycle. However, with policymakers still keen... 24th October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Coalition Talks The departure of long-standing partner Komeito from Japan’s ruling coalition means that the election of Sanae Takaichi as PM is no longer guaranteed but we still expect her to declare victory... 10th October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Labour Cash Earnings (Aug. 25) The sharp slowdown in wage growth in August largely reflects the end of the summer bonus season and regular earnings growth seems to be settling around 2%-2.5%. 8th October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Tankan (Q3 25) The latest Tankan survey confirms that Japan’s economy is shrugging off trade tensions and supports our long-held view that the Bank of Japan will resume its tightening cycle this month. 1st October 2025 · 2 mins read
Japan Rapid Response Japan Industrial Production & Retail Sales (Aug. 25) While the August activity data confirm that Japan’s GDP declined this quarter, that follows a strong performance over the past year and we doubt it will prevent the BoJ from resuming its tightening... 30th September 2025 · 2 mins read
