Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Trade tensions unlikely to reduce wage growth much While the Bank of Japan became more upbeat about the outlook for inflation this week, it still thinks that trade tensions will result in a slower wage growth via lower corporate profits. However, with... 1st August 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Trade deal strengthens case for further BoJ tightening Japan managed to secure a reduction in US vehicle tariffs with minimal concessions of its own. While that could eventually prompt Trump to renege on his promises, as things stand the trade deal has... 25th July 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: BoJ can’t shrug off strong inflation for much longer The resilience of exports and the strength in inflation leave the case for tighter monetary policy intact. Nonetheless, with trade negotiations between the US and Japan seemingly at a dead end, the... 18th July 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Stalling trade negotiations may delay BoJ rate hikes We still expect a trade deal with the US to be agree upon after the Upper House elections on 20 th July. However, given that very few countries have managed to reach an agreement so far, the... 11th July 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Trade negotiations go down to the wire The temporary pause on the 24% “reciprocal” tariff Trump imposed on imports from Japan in April is due to expire next week. As things stand, a deal with Japan looks unlikely and it’s possible that... 4th July 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: LDP set to defend majority in Upper House Even though the LDP suffered a crushing defeat in Tokyo’s metropolitan election over the weekend, it looks increasingly likely that the government will be able to defend its majority in next month’s... 27th June 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly - No signs that trade tensions are weighing on inflation The Bank of Japan retained its downbeat outlook at this week’s meeting. But with the economic data holding up despite trade tensions and inflation set to overshoot the Board’s forecasts by a sizeable... 20th June 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: BOJ will still see inflation risks tilting higher The Bank of Japan meets next week with domestic data mixed and trade headwinds significant. It won’t consider hiking this time, but we don’t think – as many now do – that the Bank won’t move again... 13th June 2025 · 7 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Consumers still spending, births falling Japanese households are doing better than had seemed to be the case, with data this week giving upbeat signals on both wages and consumer spending. They are not, however, having babies: fifty years... 6th June 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly BoJ’s pessimism is facing reality check Firms’ output forecasts suggest that Japanese exporters are benefitting from US demand shifting away from China. And with inflation running miles ahead of the Bank of Japan’s overly pessimistic... 30th May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Greek fiscal comparison is wide of the mark PM Ishiba this week rebuffed calls for tax cuts ahead of July’s Upper House election by arguing that Japan’s fiscal situation is worse than Greece’s. Even though Japan’s government debt is higher... 23rd May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: BoJ will delay further tightening until October The truce reached between China and the US over the weekend is a clear positive for Japan’s economy. Even so, we suspect that weak economic activity coupled with an impending plunge in inflation will... 16th May 2025 · 6 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Weakness in wage growth probably not genuine While the trade deal agreed between the UK and the US this week sets an encouraging precedent, there are no signs of progress in the talks between Japan and the US. Meanwhile, the recent slump in... 9th May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Bank of Japan too downbeat about inflation outlook The Bank of Japan slashed its GDP growth forecasts this week, arguing that global trade tensions are weighing on sentiment of households and firms. While consumer confidence has indeed plunged... 2nd May 2025 · 5 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Strong inflation will prompt further policy tightening At its meeting next week, the Bank of Japan will reportedly push back the timing for meeting its 2% inflation target on a sustained basis. That would be a mistake though as the fallout from global... 25th April 2025 · 4 mins read
Japan Economics Weekly Japan Weekly: Mr Akazawa goes to Washington While the Bank of Japan will probably cut its forecasts for GDP growth at its May meeting, we still expect the Bank to signal confidence in meeting its 2% inflation target on a sustained basis. Indeed... 17th April 2025 · 4 mins read
