Japan's Savings - Going for Yield

The idea of having a large pool of funds to place on the world's asset markets in order to livf off of the derived income seems alluring to most I think. In fact, you could argue that it is precisely this allure and many an economy's pursuit of it that is causing much of the current debacle in the global economy. In Japan's case we are arguing as a part of our ongoing observations that Japan is

Japan Industrial Ouput, Inflation, Household Spending and Employment April 2008

Japan's household spending fell the most in 19 months in April, factory production dropped and unemployment climbed, giving us yet more evidence that Japan's longest postwar expansion may now, slowly but surely, be coming to an end.Industrial OutputJapan's industrial output fell a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent in April from March as companies cut production due to rising inventories amid

Japan Retail Sales

Japan's retail sales rose at the slowest pace in nine months as higher prices for food and energy seem to have prompted consumers to spend less on clothing and other items. Sales climbed 0.1 percent in April from a year earlier, the Trade Ministry said today in Tokyo.Sales at department stores, supermarkets and convenience stores also declined in April. Sales at the Japan's largest retailers were

Japan Exports April 2008

Japan's year on year rate of export growth rebounded slightly in April as shipments to Asia and emerging markets helped the nation weather problems caused by the U.S. slowdown and a slowing expansion in Western Europe.Exports, the main driver of Japanese growth (accounting for more than half of last quarter's expansion), rose 4 percent from a year earlier after climbing 2.3 percent in March, the

Japan Services Index and BoJ Economic Outlook

Despite the relatively healthy performance turned in by the Japanese economy in Q1 2007, the signs are that the impact of rising food and energy costs and slowing global economic growth (and hence demand for Japanese exports) are now taking their toll. Japan's services sector, for example, bounced back slightly in March as consumers spent more to repair their cars, play golf and go to the theater

Japan Economy Watchers and Consumer Confidence April 2008

Sentiment among Japanese merchants fell for the first time in three months in April as higher prices of daily necessities sapped consumers' spending power. The Economy Watchers index, a survey of barbers, taxi drivers and others who deal with consumers, dropped to 35.5 from 36.9 in March, the Cabinet Office said today in Tokyo. The outlook index of conditions in two to three months fell to 36.1.

Japan GDP Q1 2008

Japan’s economy accelerated slightly in the first three months of 2008, driven by exports to China and other emerging economies, turning in in the process the strongest quarter of export shipments in the last four years. Gross domestic product expanded at a seasonally adjusted annualised pace of 3.3 per cent, up from a revised 2.6 per cent pace in the fourth quarter, the cabinet office said in

Inflation Returns to Japan - Tightroping Between a Slowdown and Recession

In this note, I am going to have a look at the recent slew of economic data for the month of March as well as other relevant information. Last time I did my monthly review of Japan the data had not budged much. This time is different. As per usual my analysis will progress by looking at Japan's economy from five angles which should subsequently yield a full picture of the current important

Japan Employment and Wages March 2008

Japan's wages rose for a third month in March as companies hired full-time workers at the fastest pace in almost 16 years. Total cash earnings, including overtime and bonuses, climbed 1.2 percent from a year earlier, the Labor Ministry said in Tokyo today.In part this increase seems to reflect bonuses and overtime, since if we look at the real wage index this dropped back again at a minus 0.1