IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a meeting in Washington on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 11, 2025
IMF chief sees steady world growth in 2025, continuing disinflation
Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the U.S. economy was doing "quite a bit better" than expected, although there was uncertainty around Donald Trump's trade policies.
Consumer spending in Japan has been on a downtrend for months.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 10, 2025
Japan’s household spending falls, weighing on BOJ rate hike path
Outlays adjusted for inflation fell 0.4% in November from a year earlier, led by household durable goods and clothing.
Prices continue to outpace wage increases in Japan.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2025
Real wages fall for a fourth month, squeezing Japanese households further
Inflation-adjusted real wages dropped 0.3% from a year earlier in November as some food prices and utility rates increased.
The decrease in sales of imported foreign-brand vehicles in Japan in 2024 was apparently because of Houthis attacks on ships that disrupted commercial shipping and rising materials costs that sent vehicle prices higher.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2025
Japan sales of foreign-brand vehicles fall 8.5% in 2024
Sales of foreign-brand vehicles priced lower than ¥4 million plunged 28.6%, while sales of those priced between ¥4 million and less than ¥10 million dipped 2.2%.
Former Bank of Japan board member Makoto Sakurai sees the likelihood of a hike in March as high as 70%, as the central bank may be better off waiting out at least the first couple of months of the new administration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2025
Former BOJ board member sees rising chance of March rate hike
Makoto Sakurai says the central bank may wait out at least the first couple of months of the new administration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
People shop at a market in New Delhi on Nov. 4. On Tuesday, India forecast annual growth of 6.4% for its fiscal year ending March, the slowest in four years and below the government's initial projections.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 8, 2025
India looks to new economic playbook as risks mount
Disappointing economic indicators and a slowdown in corporate earnings in the second half of 2024 have forced investors to rethink the country's earlier outperformance.
Economy minister Yoji Muto during a meeting on Wednesday in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 8, 2025
Economy minister calls for continued wage increases
"Now is the time to step on the accelerator on wages and investment in order to transition to a growth-oriented economy," said Yoji Muto.

Longform

It's back to the classroom for some residents as municipal governments across the country conduct lessons to learn how to use new technologies.
Can aging Japan go digital without leaving anyone behind?