Recent Statistical Survey Reports, October 2008

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for August)

Tuesday, October 7, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of CI (Preliminary figures, 2005=100) in August was 100.7, a decrease of 2.8 points, 3 months backward moving average decreased for the first time in 3 months, a decrease of 1.00 points, and 7 months backward moving average decreased for 6 consecutive months, a decrease of 0.42 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “the assessment of the previous month retained”. (The assessment of Coincident index in June and July was “Worsening”). The Leading Index was 89.3, a decrease of 2.1 points, and the Lagging Index was 100.2, a decrease of 0.8 points.

General Survey on Working Conditions 2008

Tuesday, October 7, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Regarding the retirement age of the business establishments which adopted a mandatory retirement system, 85.2% (*86.0%, 86.6% in the last year) of business establishments surveyed adopted the retirement age of 60, decreased from the last year, while business establishments adopted the retirement age 63 or over and 65 or over increased from the last year, 13.5% (*12.7%, 10.6% in the last year) of them adopted the retirement age 63 or over and 10.9% (*10.0%, 9.1% in the last year) of them adopted the age of 65 or over, both of them were record-high.

The acquisition ratio of annual paid holidays given by business establishments was 46.7% (*47.7%, 46.6% in the last year).

As for the amount of retirement benefit for retired person who had been working for 35 years or over, college graduates employees (managers, clerical and technical workers) and high school graduates employees (managers, clerical and technical workers) accounted for 22.81 million yen (*23.35 million yen, 26.12 million yen in the previous survey in 2003) and 19.29 million yen (*20.01 million yen, 23.39 million yen in the previous survey in 2003) respectively.

The respondents to this survey are “private companies with 30 or more regular employees”. But before the survey in 2007, the respondents were “private companies with 30 or more regular employees in their head offices”. (*) indicates the numeric number of the survey results in 2008 recalculated on “private companies with 30 or more regular employees in their head offices”.)

Survey on Worker’s Health Situation 2007

Friday, October 10, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of business establishments which address mental health issues was 33.6% (23.5% in the previous survey in 2002). By size of business establishments, those with 5 thousand or over employees totaled 100.0%, those with a thousand – 4,999 employees accounted for 95.5%. As for the contents of approach (multiple answers), “to establish the consulting system for employees” was the highest, 59.3%, “provision of education, training and information service to employees” and “provision of education, training and information service to managers” accounted for 49.3%, 34.5%, respectively.

Asked about the health condition, 77.4% of the employees answered “healthy” (79.5% in the previous survey), 17.1% replied “in poor health” (15.7% in the previous survey).

The ratio of employees who had “strong anxiety, problem and stress about work” was 58.0% (61.5% in the previous survey).

Indices of Industrial Production (September)

Wednesday, October 29, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased by 1.2 % from the previous month.
According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to decrease in October and November. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production is on a moderately downward trend.”

Consumer Price Index (September)

Friday, October 31, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 102.7, an increase of 2.1% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 102.6, an increase of 2.3% from the previous year, both indexes increased for 12 consecutive months.

Andin the ward –areas of Tokyo in October, the former accounted for 101.8, an increase of 1.2% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the latter accounted for 101.8, an increase of 1.5% from the previous year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (September)

Friday, October 31, 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 2.0% from the same month the year before.

Labour Force Survey (September)

Friday, October 31, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (September)

Friday, October 31, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.0%, decreased by 0.2 points from the previous month. That for men was 4.1%, decreased 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 20 thousand from a year earlier to 2.71 million. It increased for 6 consecutive months.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 140 thousand from the previous month to 55.17 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.84, decreased by 0.02 points from the previous month.

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

See the table above for chart data.

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in September)

Tuesday, November 4, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) increased by 0.1% from a year earlier, contractual cash earnings increased by 0.1%. It increased for 11 consecutive months. Scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.4%, non-scheduled cash earnings decreased by 3.3%, special cash earnings decreased by 2.5% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 2.2% from a year earlier. It decreased for 6 consecutive months.

Non-scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for business establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) increased by 0.2% from the previous month.

The average amount of summer bonus (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) was 406,012 yen, a decreased of 0.4% from the previous year.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (October)

Monday, October 20, released by the Cabinet Officeopen new window

The economy has weakened further.

Exports are decreasing moderately. Industrial production is decreasing.

Corporate profits are falling and business investment is in a weak tone.

The employment situation is getting worse.

While private consumption is almost flat, some weak movements are seen lately.

Monthly Economic Labour Report (October)

Monday, October 27, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment situation is getting worse.

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