Recent Statistical Survey Reports, December 2004

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Statistical Survey Reports

Survey on Labor Economy Trends (November 2004)

Thursday, December 2, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The Diffusion index (DI) ("Insufficient" - "Excessive") for judging the shortage/excessiveness of regular employees was +11 in November (+8 in August); Excess of insufficiency augmented for 2 quarters in a row.

National Accounts (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates of Expenditure in Jul.-Sep.)

Wednesday, December 8, released by Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) increased for the first time in 2 quarters by 0.1% (0.2% on annual basis).

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.2% was contributed by domestic demand and -0.1% by external demand.

Survey on Employment Trends (The first half of 2004)

Wednesday, December 8, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The job accession rate was 9.0% (8.9% in a year earlier) while the separation rate was 8.8% (9.4% in a year earlier). The accession rate exceeded the separation rate in the first half of year for the first time in 3 years.

Basic Survey on Labor Unions (2004)

Tuesday, December 14, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of labor union members was 10.309 million (decreased by 2.1% from the previous year), decreased for the 10th consecutive year.

The estimated unionization rate was decreased by 0.4points to 19.2%.

TANKAN (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises) (December)

Wednesday, December 15, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:171KB)

The Diffusion Index (DI) ("Favorable" - "Unfavorable") for business sentiment in large enterprises rose for the first time in 7 quarters to 22 (26 in the previous quarter and forecast 15 in the coming quarter). For non-manufacturing DI was 11 (11 in the previous quarter and forecast 10 in the coming quarter).

The Diffusion Index (DI) ("Excessive" - "Insufficient") for employment sentiment in large enterprises of all industry was 3 (4 in the previous quarter and forecast 0 in the coming quarter).

Special Survey of the Monthly Labor Survey (2004)

Wednesday, December 15, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Contractual cash earnings (for establishments with less than 5 employees) in July was 192,588 yen, decreased by 0.5% from a year earlier (Contractual cash earnings for establishments with more than 5 employees decreased by 0.2%).

21st Century Follow-up Survey on New-Born Infant (Third round)

Wednesday, December 22, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Of mothers who gave birth in 2001, 35.0% of them had job (at that time their children were 2.5 years old); increased from the previous survey conducted a year ago (30.8% ; at that time their children were 1.5 years old).

Business Outlook Survey (Oct.-Dec.)

Monday, December 27, released by Cabinet Office, Ministry of Finance

Excess of Employment insufficiency BSI ("insufficient" - "excessive") increased in both large-scale, medium-sized, and small-to-medium-sized corporations compared to the previous quarter.

Employment Situation of Physically and Mentally Handicapped Persons (Jun.2004)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The employment rate of physically and mentally handicapped persons in private sector companies was 1.46%.

Indices of Industrial Production (Preliminary Report in November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased for the first time in 3 months by 1.5% from the previous month. The index is expected to increase in December and to decrease in January.

Consumer Price Index (November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Public Management,
Home Affairs, Posts and TeleCommunications

Consumer Price Index increased by 0.8% from a year earlier, while the Index excluding fresh food decreased by 0.2%.

Consumer Price Index in Ward-area of Tokyo in December unchanged, while the general Index excluding fresh food decreased by 0.4%.

Consumer Price Index in Ward-area of Tokyo in 2004 decreased for the 6th consecutive year by 0.1% from a year earlier.

Labor Force Survey (November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Public Management,
Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications

Report on Employment Service (November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.5%, decreased by 0.2 points from the previous month, the best showing in 69 months. That for men decreased by 0.1 points to 4.7%, while that for women decreased by 0.2 points to 4.3%.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.92, rose by 0.04 points from the previous month.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 0.3% from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons dropped for the 18th consecutive month from a year earlier to 2.90 million.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Public Management,
Home Affairs, Posts and TeleCommunications

Living expenditure in workers' household decreased for the first time in 3 months by 0.7% in real values from a year earlier.

Monthly Labor Survey (Preliminary Report in November)

Tuesday, December 28, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total cash earnings (for establishments with 5 or more employees) increased by 0.4%, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 0.7% from a year earlier.

Non--scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) increased for the first time in 3 months by 0.6% from the previous month.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (December)

Monday, December 20, released by Cabinet Office

The economy is recovering at a moderate pace recently, while some weak movements are seen.

• Corporate profits are improving sharply and business investment is increasing.
• Private consumption is decelerating recently.
• The employment situation is improving, though some severe aspects remain.
• Both exports and industrial production are weakening.
• As for short-term prospects, the economic recovery is expected to remain solid with steady recovery in the world economy, as the domestic private demand continues to increase. On the other hand, attention should be given to the inventory adjustment in the IT related area, and to the developments of crude oil prices and other factors.

Monthly Labor Economy Report (December)

Tuesday, December 21, released by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The employment situation is improving, though some severe aspects remain.