Mainichi: Japan Economy February News:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200331/p2g/00m/0bu/031000c

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200331/p2g/00m/0bu/030000c

Industrial output article:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's industrial output in February rose 0.4 percent from the previous month, government data showed Tuesday.

The seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 100.2 against the 2015 base of 100, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report. The result followed a revised 1.0 percent increase in January.

The index of industrial shipments rose 2.6 percent to 99.8, while that of inventories decreased 2.0 percent to 103.8.

Based on a poll of manufacturers, the ministry expects output to drop 5.3 percent in March and rise 7.5 percent in April.

Comments and Ideas: 

Nothing really significant in terms or cause for alarm in February for the industrial output. But also, for the most part, as we are consumed by the virus news, most factories and such will continue to keep running unless there is a virus outbreak and or their supply chains are related to Chinese parts and supplies. 

The March industrial output will be the real indicator as to what happens. And as we see maybe a negative 5.3 percent for March and an increase of 7.5 percent in April, which might indicate there is some association with suppliers in China.

Employment article:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's unemployment rate was at 2.4 percent in February, unchanged from the previous month, the government said Tuesday.

The job availability ratio stood at 1.45, down from 1.49 in January, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The ratio means there were 145 job openings for every 100 job seekers.

Comments and Ideas:

Nothing really also significant for February. But again, March might be a different story. However, maybe not reporting just yet, but might there possibly be some layoffs etc because of the loss of tourists in the tourism industry?

 Maybe yes or maybe no, I guess depending on the type of business in the tourism industry, and I think Japan, more so than some other countries, takes a long term approach and or thinks of the big picture, and are not so prone to layoff employees at the first sign of decreasing profits, that we might see in for example the US.

 I prefer the Japan approach to business to the US approach. I think, for the most part, its a more humane way of doing business. But then again, how about the Japanese airline industry and what is going on there.

The global airline industry is not doing so good, which means the Japanese airline industry too. So how are they handling the situation? Hopefully they are taking a long term approach and thinking of their employees as being important stakeholders in the company and not just to be used and laid-off  or thrown away at the first sign of trouble.

Have a nice day and be safe out there!

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