Recent Statistical Survey Reports, May 2008

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for March)

Friday, May 9, released by the Cabinet Office

The Leading Index was 20.0%, the Coincident Index was 33.3%, and the Lagging Index was 25.0%. The Leading Index and the Coincident Index report mark below 50% for the first time in 2 months and the Lagging Index mark below 50% for 2 consecutive months.

National Accounts (The 1st Preliminary Estimates of Expenditure in Jan.-Mar.)

Friday, May 16, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) increased by 0.8% (3.3% on annual basis) from the previous quarters.

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.3% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.5% by external demand.

Quarterly Estimates of GDP (The 1st Preliminary Estimates)
Growth rate of GDP from the previous quartersContribution
of Domestic Demand and External Demand to changes in GDP

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Senior and Junior High School Graduates in Mar.2008 (End of March)

Friday, May 16, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of final-year senior high school students who got an official job offer was 179 thousand people, decreased by 0.2% compared to the same period the previous year. The ratio of final-year senior high school students receiving official job offer was 97.1%, increased by 0.4 points from a year earlier. The ratio of active job openings to applicants for the students was 1.87, increased by 0.08 points from a year earlier.

The number of final-year junior high school students who got an official job offer was 2 thousand people, decreased by 8.1% compared to the same period the previous year. The ratio of final-year junior high school students receiving official job offer was 74.6%, decreased by 1.8 points from a year earlier.

Trend in the percentage of final-year high school
students with official job offer

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate in Mar.2008 (University, etc.) (April 1)

Friday, May 16, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

The ratio of final-year university students who got an official job offer to applicants was 96.9%, increased by 0.6 points from a year earlier.

Thtat of final-year junior college students (female only) was 94.6%, increased by 0.3 points from the same period a year earlier.

Thtat of final-year technology college students (male only) was 99.6%, increased by 0.8 points from the same period a year earlier.

Thtat of final-year vocational school students was 93.7%, decreased by 0.1 points from the same period a year earlier.

Trend in the percentage of final-year university
students with official job offer

Report on Employment Service for the disabled (FY2007)

Friday, May 16, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of job placements for disabled persons through Public Employment Security Offices increased by 3.6% from the previous fiscal year, in which it exceeded for the first time 40,000cases, to a record high of 45,565.

Survey on Support for Balancing Work and Family-care in the Future

Tuesday, May 20, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

24.6% of the total enterprises surveyed introduced the child-care leave systems exceeding the standard required by the law, and the ratio of those with more than 1,000 employees accounted for 55.2%.

Achievement Status of Individual Labor Dispute Settlement System (FY2007)

Friday, May 23, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Cases brought to comprehensive labor counseling corners across the country regarding civil individual labor disputes totaled 197,637, an increase of 5.5% from the previous year.

Consumer Price Index (April)

Friday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 100.9, an increase of 0.8% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 100.8, an increase of 0.9% from the previous year, both indexes increased for 7 consecutive months.

And in the ward –areas of Tokyo in May, the former accounted for 101.3, an increase of 0.9% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the latter accounted for 101.1, an increase of 0.9% from the previous year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (April)

Friday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for a worker’s household with 2 or more family members decreased by 1.6% from the same month the year before.

Indices of Industrial Production (April)

Thursday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 0.3 % from the previous month.
This index is expected to increase in May and decrease in June.

Labour Force Survey (April)

Friday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (April)

Friday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.0%, increased by 0.2 points from the previous month. That for men was 4.0%, increased by 0.2 points from the previous month, and that for women was 3.9%, unchanged from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons increased by 70 thousand from a year earlier to 2.75 million.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) increased by 50 thousand from the previous month to 55.23 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.93, decreased by 0.02 points from the previous month.

Trend in Unemployment Rate and Ratio of Active Job
Openings to Applicant

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in April)

Monday, June 2, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) increased by 0.6% from a year earlier and scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.5%. It increased for 6 consecutive months.

Non-scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for business establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) decreased by 3.7% from the previous month.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (May)

Thursday, May 22, released by the Cabinet Office

The economic recovery appears to be pausing recently.

• Export growth is slowing down and industrial production is flat.
• Corporate profits have been in a weak tone and business investment is almost flat.
• The employment improvement appears to be pausing while some severe aspects remain.
• Private consumption is almost flat.
• Housing construction had almost picked up, but is flat recently.

Monthly Economic Labour Report (May)

Friday, May 30, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment improvement appears to be pausing while some severe aspects remain.