Japan - While Consumer Inflation Falters, Wages Fall and Industrial Output Plummets

Japan seems to be really racking up a series of economic issues which lead me to think that this recession we are now entering which be neither short lived nor "light". Inflation continues to make its presence felt in a way which is not exactly disastrous after years of deflation, but which does mean that downward pressure on wages as the economy slows pushes consumption back, and that is just

Shutting Down the Samurais?

By Claus Vistesen: LausanneIt is not as if financial markets are short on action at the moment, and financial pundits and analysts are certainly being served an ample amount of ammunition from which to draw inspiration. With the recent news that Warren Buffet will be relinquishing his coffers of 7.5 billion to support the erstwhile jewel of investment banking Goldman Sachs, it is difficult for

Japan - The Recession is Here

By Claus Vistesen: LausanneIt has been a while since I last had Japan under the spotlight where and where I noted that Japan almost certainly would be tumbling into or very close to recession. Since then, data have been pointing only one way really and with the recent downward revision of an already quite awful Q2 GDP reading Japan now seems certain to be flirting with a recession. As per usual,

Japan Machinery Orders Fall For A Second Month in July

One important barometer of corporate capital spending fell for the second consecutive month in July, suggesting that manufacturers are bracing themselves for slower demand in the coming months. The Cabinet Office said Thursday core private-sector machinery orders, excluding the often volatile orders from electric power companies and for ships, fell 3.9 percent to 1.04 trillion yen ($9.67 billion)

Shares Up, Small Business Sentiment Down

Some rather contradictory pieces of news today. The Economy Watchers index is at a seven year low, Japanese stocks jump the most in five months, the yen falls the most in three months, bank lending remains almost stationary, while real estate bankruptcies surge. Make of all of this what you will, but the underlying reality is that we are now almost certainly in full recession as far as the

Inflation Accelerates Further In Japan, While Wages Stagnate and Spending Falls

Japan's consumer prices were up at the fastest date in more than a decade in July, while other data releases out in the last week show Japan's unemployment rate eased back from two-year high, household spending decreased, while industrial output rose.Inflation At Highest Level Since 1997Inflation in Japan, according to the general index, increased to 2.3% in July from 2% in June, thus clocking up