The unemployment rate in Japan for the last month remained unchanged. This is confirmed by the official data released on Thursday. According to the report prepared by the Statistics Bureau, the indicator (seasonally adjusted) was 3.2% compared with 3.2% in the previous month, which is in line with the expectations.
The Japanese consumer prices, excluding fresh food cost (a key measure of inflation), fell 0.4% in May 2016. Prices fell in May for the third month in a row on an annualized basis, according to official data. The rate of the fall is in line with the expectations of experts.
The overall consumer price index (CPI) also fell 0.4%, although there was predicted a drop of 0.5%.
The volume of consumer spending fell in May by 1.1% compared to May 2015. This coincided with analysts' expectations and was much higher than the increase recorded in April – 0.4%.
The index of household spending in Japan (y/y) fell less than expected last month. According to the report prepared by the Statistics Bureau, the indicator (seasonally adjusted) was -1.1% compared with -0.4% in the previous month. The experts expected a decline in the past month to -1.4%.
Japanese Tankan index, an indicator of confidence of large companies processing industry, in the second quarter remained unchanged at 6 points, while economists on average expected a decline to 4 points.
The sentiment of large non-manufacturing companies in Japan from the Tankan decreased for the last month. According to the report prepared by the Bank of Japan, the indicator (seasonally adjusted) was 19 compared with 22 in the previous month, which is in line with the expectations.
As for the stock market, it closed Friday trading with an increase due to the strengthening of the retail sectors of maritime transport and the fishing industry. At the close on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Nikkei 225 rose 0.68%.
Meanwhile USD/JPY fell 0.44% to 102.77, and EUR/JPY fell 0.52%, reaching 113.96.