NEWSWORTHY
Japan's new fiscal year starts amid government scandal and higher food prices
New government recruits kick off 2018 with vows of transparency as their corporate counterparts start work amid rising prices driven by a shrinking population and costlier commodities.
Japanese consumers increasingly face stealth price hikes via 'shrinkflation'
In Japan, a phenomenon known as "shrinkflation" — an important economic countermeasure against inflation for businesses — has been catching the attention of consumers. The term, coined by American economist Pippa Malmgren, describes what happens when manufacturers have to contend with higher costs but don't ...
Vegetable prices surge as last year's typhoon and bad weather catch up to supermarkets
Crops damaged by Typhoon Lan and chilly weather in 2017 are causing prices for lettuce, cabbage and radishes to soar.
Japan's core CPI for October logs steepest rise in three years: ministry
The core consumer price index for October recorded its steepest year-on-year growth in three years, excluding the effects of the April 2014 consumption tax hike, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday. The growth reflected rises in electricity and gas rates stemming from higher ...
Osaka's ¥1 sales energize shoppers but not good for BOJ's inflation quest
Osaka is famed for it's cheap prices, with ¥1 supermarket sales, ¥10 drinks and discount train tickets sold right next to the station. That attracts thrifty consumers and tourists, but may be undercutting the central bank's efforts to generate sustained price rises. "If it's not ...
Japanese consumers hit by round of price hikes across many industries
As the second half of the fiscal year began Sunday, delivery, food and many other companies raised their prices to cover spiraling materials and labor costs.
Quarter of U.S. fuel output shut down by Harvey, sending prices up, supply down
Tropical Storm Harvey inflicted more damage on the heart of the U.S. energy industry overnight after flooding the biggest U.S. refiner in Texas and then churning into Louisiana, causing fuel shortages and high gasoline prices that could afflict the country for weeks. Harvey's disruption of ...
Frugal households offer no respite for BOJ, retailers
Naruhito Nogami, a 37-year-old systems engineer in Tokyo, drives to discount stores on weekends to buy cheap groceries in bulk, even though he earns enough to make ends meet and the prospects for Japan's economic recovery are brighter. "I do have money, but I'm frugal ...
CPI logs seventh consecutive drop in September as weak spending clouds BOJ inflation outlook
Core consumer prices fell for the seventh month straight and household spending slumped in September, endorsing the Bank of Japan's view it will take more time for inflation to accelerate to its 2 percent target as the economy stagnates. While the sluggish indicators come as ...
Japan's consumer prices off for fourth straight month in June
Japan's consumer prices fell 0.5 percent in June from a year earlier for the fourth straight month of decline, the government said Friday, adding pressure on the Bank of Japan to further ease monetary policy to boost inflation. The core consumer price index, which excludes ...
Canada dollar slump spurs U.S. to buy wild blueberries to halt price plunge
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will buy up to 30 million pounds 30,000,000 pounds (13.6 million kgs) of wild blueberries to help stabilize prices and supply, as officials say the low value of the Canadian dollar has hurt one of Maine's signature industries. The members ...
