Japan preliminary December Industrial Production -0.1% m/m

  • expected -1.2%, prior +0.2%

Manufacturers outlooks:

  • for January 0.0% m/m
  • for February +4.1% m/m

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December retail sales are +3.8% y/y, up m/m for the 10th consecutive month. Real wages may be lagging but buying, not so much. The rising cost of living in Japan, and pretty much everywhere else, is playing a part in this.

  • expected 3.2%, prior 2.6%

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