Informe resumido, (Este es el
ampliado)
December 22, 2008
Bank of Japan
Japan's economic conditions have been deteriorating.
Exports have decreased. Corporate profits have continued to decrease, and business sentiment has also deteriorated. In this situation, business fixed investment has declined. Private consumption has weakened, as the employment and income situation has become increasingly severe. Housing investment has been more or less flat. Public investment, meanwhile, has been sluggish. Reflecting these developments in demand both at home and abroad, production has decreased substantially.
Japan's economic conditions are likely to increase in severity for the immediate future.
Exports are expected to decrease substantially due to the further slowdown in overseas economies and the
appreciation of the yen. Domestic private demand is also likely to weaken further as corporate profits and firms' funding conditions deteriorate and the employment and income situation becomes increasingly severe. Public investment, meanwhile, is projected to be sluggish. Reflecting these developments in demand and adjustment pressures on inventories, production is expected to continue decreasing substantially.
On the price front, the three-month rate of decrease in domestic corporate goods prices has been large, mainly due to the drop in international commodity prices. The year-on-year rate of increase in consumer prices (excluding fresh food) has moderated to around 2 percent, mainly due to the drop in the prices of petroleum products.
Looking at price developments for the time being, domestic corporate goods prices are likely to continue decreasing, mainly due to the drop in international commodity prices. The year-on-year rate of increase in consumer prices is expected to moderate reflecting the declines in the prices of petroleum products and the stabilization of food prices.
In money markets, the weighted average of the overnight call rate has remained at around 0.3 percent. While JGB repo market rates have declined recently, interbank rates on term instruments have edged up, reflecting a seasonal increase in demand for funds over the year-end. Meanwhile, the yen has appreciated against the U.S. dollar and stock prices have risen compared with last month, whereas yields on long-term government bonds have fallen.
Financial conditions in Japan have deteriorated sharply on the whole: funding conditions in the CP and corporate bond markets have tightened; and an increasing number of firms, not only small but also large ones, have reported that their financial positions are weak and lending attitudes of financial institutions are severe.
The overnight call rate has been at a low level relative to the state of economic activity and price developments. However, it seems that funding costs for firms have recently edged up, as indicated by the wider credit spreads on CP and corporate bonds. The amount outstanding of CP and corporate bonds issued has been below the previous year's level, as investors continue to be selective in their purchase of CP and corporate bonds. The amount outstanding of bank lending has increased, mainly to large firms, reflecting firms' demand for covering the decline in the issuance of CP and corporate bonds and for securing more liquidity, although that to small firms has remained below the previous year's level. Despite the increase in bank lending, an increasing number of these firms, including large firms, have reported that their financial positions are weak and lending attitudes of financial institutions are severe. Meanwhile, the money stock has increased at a somewhat slower pace.