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The latest verified economic news, official data and analysis on Japan, from The Edge for Economic Consultancy.
Global · Jun 18, 2026 · 4 min read
Japan's merchandise trade balance returned to deficit in May 2026, recording a shortfall of about 378.6 billion yen, or roughly 2.36 billion…
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Global · Jun 17, 2026 · 4 min read
The Bank of Japan raised its policy interest rate to around 1.0% from 0.75% on 16 June 2026, lifting borrowing costs to…
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The Japanese yen has fallen to its weakest level since 1986, with the dollar reaching around 163 yen, prompting the government in Tokyo to signal that it is ready to intervene. The slide extends a prolonged period of weakness for the yen, driven largely by the wide gap between Japanese interest rates and the higher…
Japan’s corporate goods price index rose 7.1 percent in June from a year earlier, the fastest annual pace since March 2023, accelerating from a revised 6.6 percent in May and beating market expectations of about 6.8 percent, Bank of Japan data showed on Friday. On the month, producer prices rose 0.4 percent. Energy and metals…
Japanese household spending fell in May from a year earlier for a second straight month, but by far less than expected and with a solid rebound on the month, in a mixed reading on whether rising wages are yet reaching consumers. Real spending by households of two or more people dropped 0.4 percent from a…
Japanese workers saw their real wages rise for a fifth consecutive month in May, as nominal pay growth stayed above 3 percent, in a further sign that the country’s long-awaited cycle of rising wages is taking hold. Nominal labour cash earnings rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier, extending a run of increases to a…
Gulf markets started the second half of the year mostly higher, led by Dubai and Oman, while Egypt ended little changed and Asian trading was firm in Tokyo and Shanghai. Hong Kong was closed for a public holiday. Dubai’s DFM General Index was the regional standout, rising 0.91 percent to 6,010.07, followed by Oman’s MSX…
Business confidence among Japan’s largest manufacturers rose to an eight year high in the second quarter, according to the Bank of Japan’s closely watched Tankan survey, as firms reported stronger current conditions and maintained robust investment plans despite external uncertainty. The headline index for large manufacturers climbed to plus 22 in the June survey, from…
Egypt has issued 80 billion Japanese yen, about US$500 million, in sustainability Samurai bonds in Japan, supported by a partial credit guarantee from the African Development Bank, in a transaction that broadens the country’s external funding sources and deepens its access to long dated Asian capital. The issuance was divided into two tranches. The first…
Consumer inflation in Tokyo picked up in June, the fastest pace in three months, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will continue to tighten policy gradually after its June rate increase. Tokyo core consumer prices, which exclude fresh food, rose 1.6 percent year on year in June, up from 1.3 percent in May and…
Tokyo consumer inflation accelerated in June, giving markets an early signal that Japan’s price pressures are firming again after several months of moderation. The headline consumer price index for the Ku area of Tokyo rose 1.7 percent from a year earlier, up from 1.4 percent in May, according to preliminary data released by Japan’s Statistics…
The Bank of Japan has moved further into policy normalisation, with its June communication pointing to more rate increases if the economy and inflation develop in line with the board’s outlook. At its 16 June meeting the Policy Board voted seven to one to guide the uncollateralised overnight call rate at around 1.0 percent, its…