Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
AFP - 1 hour 10 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Business & Economy
TOKYO (AFP) - – Japan's factory output rose at a slower than expected pace in March and consumer prices continued to slide, but glimmers of a fragile recovery emerged in the world's second-largest economy Friday.
In a further sign of Japan's current vulnerability, the unemployment rate edged higher to 5.0 percent in March, worse than the expected 4.9 percent, which was also the figure in February as hiring remained stagnant.
The number of jobless rose 150,000 from a year earlier to 3.5 million, the ministry of internal affairs and communications said.
Japan's central bank on Friday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a rock-bottom 0.1 percent, as widely expected, to help boost Japan's gradual recovery from its worst slump in decades.
"Japan's economy faces the critical challenge of overcoming deflation and returning to a sustainable growth path with price stability," the Bank of Japan said in its statement.
Deflation still remains a major challenge for Japan as it cuts into corporate profits and leads consumers to delay purchases as they wait for further price drops.
Core consumer prices, excluding those for volatile fresh food, fell for the 13th straight month in March, down 1.2 percent from a year earlier, data showed Friday.
Asia's biggest economy has been stuck in a deflationary spiral since its assets bubble burst in the early 1990s, and consumer spending has never fully recovered to become a major driver of growth.
However, economists welcomed figures showing output rose 0.3 percent on-month in March, which despite missing expectations of a 0.9 percent rise was the first gain in two months and came after February's 0.6 percent decrease.
And a stronger production forecast for April buoyed hopes that the economy was crawling back towards health.
Industrial output is likely to see 3.7 percent growth on higher activity in the machinery, chemical and telecommunication sectors, the government said.
"This is a very strong sign of a brighter outlook," said Yuji Shimanaka, economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.
"The government expects the strongest growth in machinery production for April, which is an item immediately linked to corporate investment," he said.
Separate data released Friday showed that household spending surged 4.4 percent on-year compared with a fall of 0.5 percent in February. A Dow Jones Newswires poll of economists had expected only a 0.4 percent rise.
The figure was "probably due to rush demand for flat-screen TVs in March ahead of an introduction of new and less generous government incentive programs to buy home appliances," Shinko Research Institute's Norio Miyagawa said.
The Japanese economy last year emerged from its worst post-war recession, growing at a modest 0.9 percent in October-December due to rebounding exports, much of them to booming China, and government stimulus measures at home.
Japan's exports are crucial to what the International Monetary Fund has called its "tentative" recovery from the effects of the global downturn, as weak domestic demand and persistent deflation threaten growth.
Its overseas shipments surged in March on-year for a fourth straight month of gains, illustrating strong Asian demand is firmly supporting the Japanese economy.
The overall shipments gained 1.6 percent in March from the previous month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.
Inventory stockpiles fell 1.6 percent.
"The data were actually positive," said Barclays Capital chief Japan economist Kyohei Morita. "Industrial output is getting support from not only exports but also recovering capital investment."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Airbus defers A380 again for Malaysia Airlines AFP - 11 minutes ago
Samsung Electronics sees six-fold surge in profit AFP - 34 minutes ago
China shares end up slightly but lose 7.7 pct in April Reuters - 37 minutes ago
India MMTC seeks lower tax on raw gold imports-report Reuters - 38 minutes ago
Exxon starts 6-wk maintenance at Singapore refinery Reuters - 43 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
Russia cuts key interest rate to new low
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
China Economychina economy
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Oscar winner Bullock divorces husband, adopts a baby: People
US oil burn begins as wind turns for the worst
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
US Senate breaks logjam on Wall Street overhaul
More Most Viewed »
Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
French driving veil row escalates
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 30 April 2010 NATO troops raid Afghan MP's home, kill relative
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Iraq vote recount to start Monday; may take 3 weeks
Google wins Rosetta Stone trademark case
Clashes erupt as Greek bailout deal nears
Belgian parliament votes to ban wearing of veil
|
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
UN to distribute 200,000 laptops to Gaza refugees
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
US-TECH Summary
Pakistan agents believe Taliban's Mehsud is alive
|
Hugo Chavez hails successful Twitter debut
Kidnap, oil theft plague Nigeria as amnesty falters
|
Washington Post revamps online political coverage
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims
|
Man stabs 28 children at kindergarten in China
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Pakistan Taliban chief said to survive US attack
Apple's Jobs criticizes Flash's "closed system"
Myanmar TV says pro-junta group registers for vote
Motorola smartphone sales rise
Panama's ex-dictator Noriega very weak: lawyer
|
SKorea ship sinking may be perfect crime for North
Myanmar aid barriers hinder cyclone recovery: HRW
France denies Noriega war prisoner status
Elders' absence hinders army goals in NW Pakistan
Oil slick to hit U.S. coast on Friday
Vietnam seeks funds to clear unexploded wartime bombs
China will undertake greater global role: Wen
Thai protest rivals want military to end 'anarchy'
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed
|
Wireless group pushes hunt for spectrum
|
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
|
French-Australian film to close Cannes festival
India's 3G auction to end this week: minister
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Hugo Chavez invites Fidel, Evo to Twitter
|
Wen vows fairness for foreign, Chinese companies
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010
China mobile carrier Unicom's profit down 68 pct
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform
US Navy officially ends ban on women in submarines
Seized violin to be loaned again to virtuoso: Austrian central bank
Bucharest businessmen combine cycling and chic
Slim down for promotions, Nepalese police told
A Minute With: Michael Caine on being "Harry Brown"
Moscow unveils restored Bolshoi facade
Bad boy Colin Farrell questions word of his reform
|
Lady Gaga, Bullock named top artists in 2010
|
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
UK's Cameron seeks to build on TV debate boost
|
US Boy Scouts issues awards for videogame mastery
Israel's Netanyahu takes on hardliners in party vote
Brown fails to woo voters in crunch British TV debate
Thai hospital near protest evacuates patients
|
Hezbollah leader won't confirm or deny Scud claims
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
EU, China talk over how, not if, to sanction Iran
|
South Korea's Lee meets Hu; sunken ship in backdrop
|
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge
Car bomb kills 8, wounds 20 in Baghdad
Apple iPhone prototype finder identified
More survivors return after attack on Mexico aid convoy
Shanghai shuts down financial district ahead of Expo
|
Rosetta Stone suit vs Google dismissed
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project
Palm shares soar on HP acquisition
Clinton seeks concrete action on peace from Arabs
|
As US papers struggle, AP net profit falls 65%
North Korea to expel South Korean workers from resort
|
Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software
Japan PM renews vow to resolve U.S. base row
|
Oil from leaking well 'washes ashore' in Louisiana
Chinese reports say 5 children hurt in new attack
Navy to allow women to serve on submarines
Thai woman, Philippine man convicted in Cambodia
US Democrats unveil immigration overhaul plan
Vietnam celebrates 35th anniversary of war's end
Disaster looms as oil slick closes on US coast
Adviser slams Tonga government over ferry inquiry
U.S. Democrats unveil immigration reform plan
Chinese man burns to death after latest school attack
Trial set for U.S. parents in death of Russian boy
Report: Japan issues warrant for anti-whaling boss
Oil spill pressures White House on drilling, climate
Man burns himself in latest China school attack
Deadly school attacks in China
Japan seeks arrest of anti-whaling ship chief
Thai protesters storm major hospital in Bangkok
Japan data shows mixed signs for recovery
China Construction Bank plans big share issue
Czechs discover a new taste for speciality beers
Cuba's underground rappers test free speech
Microsoft shelves Courier, but may re-emerge
|
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
Seoul shares gain on techs, Samsung Elec
"Chuck" fans plan rally support for series
Japan factory output up but jobless rate worsens
"Glee" star Agron cast in sci-fi movie "Four"
Russia's Medvedev pushes high-tech project
|
Bank of Japan keeps key rate unchanged
Stephen King's "Dark Tower" in new hands
"Nightmare" redo eyeing No. 1 box-office bow
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
"Iron Man 2" opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets
Toyota sets up design quality division
Taiwan stocks log worst fall in 2 wks, track China
S.Korea may take steps on Samsung Life IPO's FX impact
Japan's central bank holds interest rates steady
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco
|
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
|
Nightmare a sleep-inducing retread
|
Glee star Agron cast in sci-fi movie Four
|
Chuck fans plan rally support for series
|
Lindsay Lohan defends gun photo as art
|
Iron Man 2 opens at No. 1 in six overseas markets
|
Vengeance neither sweet or funny in eco-comedy
|
Stephen King's Dark Tower in new hands
|
Oprah Winfrey network to air Rehab show
|
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Microsoft sidelines "Courier" tablet project
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
Northern Ireland police on alert ahead of British vote
|
Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy
Iraq's Maliki rejects rival's call for intervention
|
Police in Azerbaijan detain dozens marking massacre
|
US-TECH Summary
Lebanon shocked by lynching of murder suspect
|
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
Pakistan, India still have much to do on ties
|
Mauritius vote seen close, economic reforms to stay
|
Intel: Ex-Pakistan spy found dead in N. Waziristan
Outcry at Russian government's media crackdown bid
|
Indonesia police say arrested American had hashish
Thai hospital evacuated after protesters storm it
Hawaii lawmakers OK civil unions, send bill to gov
2 Ind. boys accused of killing stepdad to run away
Water dispute fuels India-Pakistan tensions
5 preschoolers hit with hammer in new China attack
Beijing limits home-buyers to one new apartment
Cambodia court rejects bail for K.Rouge leaders
China's Hu meets officials of 2 Koreas amid crisis
Thai protesters on defensive after storming hospital
Wounded Nokia chief to face frustrated investors
|
Pakistani rupee edges firmer; stocks end lower
Smartphone shipments surge
|
India bans Chinese telecom equipment
China Shenhua profit up on strong coal demand
China Construction Bank to raise up to $11 billion
Japan's recovery accelerating, central bank says
ANA quarterly losses swell amid travel slump
East Timor opposes floating gas plant
Total 's Cambodia deal needs scrutiny: watchdog
Samsung Q1 net profit surges to record high
AIG Taiwan deal could face further delay-regulator
Conan criticizes Leno over Tonight Show fiasco
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights