Recent Statistical Survey Reports, February 2010

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for December)

Friday, February 5, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, preliminary figures, 2005=100) in December was 97.6, an increase of 1.6 points, for 9 consecutive months. And 3 months backward moving average increased for 8 consecutive months, an increase of 1.47 points, and 7 months backward moving average increased for 5 consecutive months, an increase of 1.45 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was "Improving" again. The Leading Index was 94.0, an increase of 3.0 points, and the Lagging Index was 84.3, a decrease of 1.4 points.

National Accounts (The 1st Preliminary Estimates Oct.-Dec. 2009 and 2009)

Monday, February 15, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) at Oct.-Dec.2009 was 1.1% (4.6% on annual basis). Of real GDP growth rate, 0.6% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.5% by external demand.

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate in 2009 was -5.0%. Of real GDP growth rate, -3.8% was contributed by domestic demand and -1.2% by external demand.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Oct. ~Dec. 2009 (The 1st Preliminary Estimates)
Growth rate of GDP from the previous Quarters(seasonally adjusted)
Contributions of Domestic Demand and External Demand to Changes in GDP

Labor Force Survey: Detailed Tabulation (Oct.-Dec. 2009)

Monday, February 22, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Of the total 51.07 million employed persons (average, in the Oct. - Dec. 2009), the number of the regular staff/employees (excluding board members) decreased by 470 thousand from the previous year to 33.43 million, showing a decrease for 3 consecutive terms. The number of non-regular staff/employees of the employees was 17.60 million, decreased by 360 thousand from the previous year. It decreased for 4 consecutive terms.

Of the total 3.31 million unemployed persons, the number of persons who had been unemployed for 3 months or more was 2.31 million, an increase of 600 thousand from the previous year. Among them, the number of persons who had been unemployed for 1 year or more was 990 thousand, an increase of 80 thousand from the previous year, and the number of persons who had been unemployed for 6 ~ 12 months was 810 thousand, an increase of 430 thousand from the previous year.

The average number of regular staff/employees in 2009 was 33.8 million decreased by 190 thousand from the previous year for 2 consecutive years. The number of non-regular staff/employees was 17.21 million, a decrease of 390 thousand. It decreased for the first time since 2003 when the comparison to the previous year became available. By details, the number of part-time workers was 11.53 million (an increase of 10 thousand from the previous year), that of contract employees or entrusted employees was 3.21 million (an increase of 10 thousand) and temporary employees dispatched by temporary staffing agency was 1.08 million (a decrease of 320 thousand).

The number of unemployed persons in 2009 was 3.36 million. Among them, persons who left the previous job in the past 1 year (their main reason for seeking a job was “quitted a job”) totaled 1.55 million. By employment type of the previous job, the number of regular staff/employees was 800 thousand, an increase of 220 thousand from the previous year, part-time workers was 420 thousand (an increase of 90 thousand), and temporary employees dispatched by temporary staffing agency was 240 thousand (an increase of 130 thousand).

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Senior High School Graduates (End of December, 2009)

Tuesday, February 23,released by the Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technologye

The ratio of final-year senior high school students with preliminary job offers at the end of December, 2009, was 74.8%, a decrease of 7.5 points from the previous year.

By sex, the ratio for men was 79.7%, decreased by 7.3 points from the previous year and that for women was 68.5%, decreased by 7.8 points from the previous year.

Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2009)

Wednesday, February 24, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The average scheduled cash earnings for general employees was 294,500yen (average age 41.1, length of service 11.4 years), decreased by 1.5% from the previous year. The average scheduled cash earnings for men decreased by 2.1%from the previous year to 326,800yen (average age 42.0, length of service 12.8 years), and that for women increased by 0.8% from the previous year to 228,000yen (average age 39.4, length of service 8.6 years).

As for the wage by type of employment, the wage of regular employees was 310,400 yen (average age 40.6, length of service 12.2 years), decreased by 1.9% from the previous year. And that of non-regular employees was 194,600 yen (average age 44.2, length of service 6.4 years), decreased by 0.1% from the previous year. By sex, the wage of regular employees for men was 337,400 yen (average age 41.5, length of service 13.4 years, a decrease by 2.3% from the previous year), and that of non-regular employees for men was 222,000 yen (average age 46.6, length of service 7.1 years, a decrease by 0.9% from the previous year). Regarding the wage for women, the former was 244,800 yen (average age 38.5, length of service 9.4 years, an increase by 0.4% from the previous year) and the latter was 172,100 yen (average age 42.3, length of service 5.8 years, an increase by 0.9% from the previous year).

Hourly wages of part-time employees for men was 1,086yen (increased by 1.4% from the previous year), that for women was 973yen (decreased by 0.2% from the previous year).

Consumer Price Index (January)

Friday, February 26, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 99.4, a decrease of 1.3% from the same month the year before, decreased for 12 consecutive months. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.2, a decrease of 1.3% from the same month the year before, decreased for 11 consecutive months.

And in the ward -areas of Tokyo in February, the former accounted for 98.6, a decrease of 1.8% from the same month the year before. The latter accounted for 98.6, a decrease of 1.8% from the same month the year before.

Indices of Industrial Production (January)

Friday, February 26, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased by 2.5% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to decrease in February and to increase in March. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production continues to show an upward movement.”

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (January)

Tuesday, March 2, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for a worker's household with 2 or more family members was decreased by 0.5% in real terms from the same month a year before.

With regard to the income contributing to increase - decrease rate, contribution of income earned by head of household accounted for 0.34 %, partner's income accounted for -0.45%, other household members' income accounted for -0.42% and non-current income accounted for 0.10%.

Labour Force Survey (January)

Tuesday, March 2, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (January)

Tuesday, March 2, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.9%, decreased by 0.3 points from the previous month. That for men was 5.2%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous month, and that for women was 4.6%, decreased by 0.5 points from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons increased by 460 thousand from a year earlier to 3.23 million.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) increased by 370 thousand from the previous month to 54.89 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.46, increased by 0.03points from the previous month.

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

Monthly Survey on Service Industries (Preliminary Report in December and 2009)

Tuesday, March 2, released by the Ministry
of Internal Affairs and Communications(PDF:150KB)

The monthly sales amount of service industry in December 2009 was 25.5 trillion yen, a decrease of 4.6 % from the same month the year before. The total number of persons employed in the industry was 26.79 million, a decrease of 0.6% from the same month the year before. Among the service industry, the monthly sales amount of employment placement and worker dispatching business was 346.081 billion yen, a decrease of 16.2% from the same month the year before, and the number of persons employed totaled 250 thousand, a decrease of 18.7% from the same month the year before.

And the yearly sales amount of service industry in 2009 was 291.5 trillion yen and the total number of persons employed in the industry (yearly average) was 26.42 million.

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in December)

Wednesday, March 3, 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, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 0.3% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 0.5%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 2.2%, and special cash earnings increased by 10.3% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) increased by 1.6% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees increased by 6.5% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (February)

Tuesday, February 23, released by the Cabinet Office

Although the economy has been picking up, it is short of autonomous factors and remains in a difficult situation such as a high unemployment rate. (The same as the previous month)

• Exports are increasing moderately. Industrial production is picking up. (In the previous month, “Exports are increasing, mainly to Asia.”)
• Corporate profits are decreasing substantially, but the downward pace has become moderate. Business investment is starting to level off, while weak movements are seen recently. (The same as the previous month)
• Although firms' judgment on current business conditions remains in a difficult situation, it continues to show movements of picking up as a whole. However, small and medium-sized enterprises are cautious about the immediate future. (The same as the previous month)
• The employment situation remains severe. (The same as the previous month)
• Private consumption continues to show movements of picking up. (The same as the previous month)
• Recent price developments show that the Japanese economy is in a mild deflationary phase. (The same as the previous month)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (February)

Wednesday, February 24, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment situation, remains severe. (The same as the previous month)