JAPAN DATA: Japan’s potential economic growth rate is estimated to
be down at 0.3% as of 2010, the lowest on record that dates back to
1985, the government said in its annual report, quoting the median of
estimates provided by the OECD, IMF, BOJ and Cabinet Office. The rate
stood at 1.3% in 2005 vs. 0.9% in 2000, 1.6% in 1995, 4.0% in 1990 and
4.4% in 1985. The decline in the potential growth rate in 2005 and 2010
can be attributed to falls in the working-age population, the report
said. The BOJ estimates Japan’s potential growth rate at around 0.5%.