Japan Economy:

 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201111/p2g/00m/0bu/151000c

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's economy is likely to have grown an annualized real 18.03 percent in the July-September period, the biggest expansion in 40 years, as business activities restarted despite the coronavirus pandemic, market forecasts showed Wednesday.

The average projection by 34 private-sector think tanks points to a sharp rebound from the 28.1 percent contraction in gross domestic product the previous quarter, believed to be the worst on record dating back to 1955, the earliest point at which the government can track reference values.

Ideas and Commentary:

We have to be careful of growth estimates when comparing quarter to quarter or even year to year. While is sounds good that is economic growth, meaning more economic activity in an economy or even sector, we have realize just how far the economy, or any in this pandemic situation decreased.So its good there is economic growth, but always be aware of how far it had decreased previously.

Article:

The Cabinet Office is scheduled to release preliminary GDP data for the July-September quarter on Monday.

The projection corresponds to a seasonally adjusted 4.22 percent growth from the previous quarter, according to the Japan Center for Economic Research, which conducted the survey from Oct. 29 to Nov. 6.

It would be the first growth in four quarters and the biggest expansion since the April-June period of 1980, according to Cabinet Office data.

The Japanese economy has been showing signs of recovery from the initial impact of the pandemic, which forced the country to impose a state of emergency from early April through late May that saw people asked to stay home and some businesses told to suspend operations.

Ideas and Commentary:

Again while its always good see economic or business news that shows growth we still need to aware of the big picture, not just a snapshot of some number. The economy, any economy, is very complex, meaning there are some parts that might improve and some parts that don't improve, maybe even decrease. So its important to look at all parts of an economy and not just one small picture. Of course, these days, any good news is welcome.

Article:

With the economy having restarted, consumption and exports are expected to have recovered, helping the overall growth in the reporting quarter.

The economists also forecast that GDP in the October-December and January-March quarters will expand an annualized 4.04 percent and 2.46 percent, respectively.

Ideas and Commentary:

Its good if that's true, but how much of consumer spending, how much of exports really. Again the economy, and any economy, is very complex. While an increase in consumer spending is always a good sign, at what level is it compared to before the pandemic. 

Expansion of the GDP is good news, but GDP alone doesn't tell the real story as an economy, again any economy, is what about the "real economy" meaning jobs, salaries, small businesses and medium sized business that make up the real economy. Big business and exports are great but we need to always remember the "real economy" and how that relates to the big picture and GDP growth. 

Everyone Have a Nice Day and Be Safe!