Year-over-year inflation in Japan is now 0.9%. While not much, after decades of deflation, it’s good news. That said, most of the inflation is the result of higher energy and electricity prices, not wages. And higher energy costs are the result of the yen’s recent 25% depreciation against the US dollar, combined with oil being priced in dollars and Japan having to import more oil than ever post Fukushima.
Tag Archives: Housing economist guy
Insanity Defined
After reducing Q4 GDP by 0.5% or $20 billion and achieving no meaningful policy changes by forcing a government shutdown, Congress now promises to reward us with potentially more of the same in early Q1 2014! While this will hurt consumer confidence and slow our recovery, it’s a boon for bond investors and emerging markets because with the Fed not tapering till 2014, interest rates will stay where they are.