Recent Statistical Survey Reports, June 2010

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Statistical Survey Reports

Survey on Labor Economic Trend (May 2010)

Friday, June 4, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

By the judgment of employment surplus or shortage DI as of May1, 2010, regarding the trend of the sense of employment surplus or shortage, in the total of industries surveyed, regular employees and part-time workers accounted for -3 (an increase by 2 points from the previous term), and the DI shows the excess of surplus. On the other hand, that of part-time workers accounted for +6 (an increase by 4 points from the previous term).

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for April)

Tuesday, June 8, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, preliminary figures, 2005=100) in April was 101.6, an increase of 1.1 points, for 13 consecutive months. And 3 months backward moving average increased for 12 consecutive months, an increase of 0.77 points, and 7 months backward moving average increased for 9 consecutive months, an increase of 1.47 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was "Improving" again. The Leading Index was 101.7, a decrease of 0.2 points, and the Lagging Index was 82.6, a decrease of 2.2 points.

National Accounts (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates Jan.-Mar. 2010)

Thursday, June 10, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was 1.2% (5.0% on annual basis), unchanged from the 1st preliminary estimates. And the rate as annual basis increased by 0.1 points from the 1st preliminary estimates/

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.6% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.7% by external demand.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Jan. ~Mar. 2010 (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates) Growth rate of GDP from the previous Quarters(seasonally adjusted)
Contributions of Domestic Demand and External Demand to Changes in GDP

Consumer Price Index (May)

Friday, June 25, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 99.7, a decrease of 0.9% from the same month the year before, decreased for 16 consecutive months. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.3, a decrease of 1.2% from the same month the year before, decreased for 15 consecutive months.

And in the ward -areas of Tokyo in June (preliminary report), the former accounted for 99.2, a decrease of 0.9% from the same month the year before. The latter accounted for 98.7, a decrease of 1.3% from the same month the year before.

Indices of Industrial Production (May)

Tuesday, June 29, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 0.1% from the previous month.

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

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (May)

Tuesday, June 29, 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 2.4% 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 -0.25 %, partner's income accounted for 0.25%, other household members' income accounted for -0.02% and non-current income accounted for -2.17% and so on.

Labour Force Survey (May)

Tuesday, June 29, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (May)

Tuesday, June 29, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 5.2%, increased by 0.1 point from the previous month. That for men was 5.5% and that for women was 4.7%, both of them unchanged from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons was 3.47 million, unchanged from a year earlier.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 250 thousand from the previous month to 54.17 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.50, increased by 0.02points from the previous month.

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

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in May)

Wednesday, June 30, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 0.2% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings increased by 0.4% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 0.1% and non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 10.3% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) increased by 0.7% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees increased by 0.6% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Monthly Survey on Service Industries (Preliminary Report in April)

Wednesday, June 30, released by the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications (PDF:169KB)

The monthly sales amount of service industry in April 2010 was 23.2 trillion yen, a decrease of 1.5 % from the same month the year before. The total number of persons employed in the industry was 26.19 million, an increase of 0.1% from the same month the year before. Among the service industry, the monthly sales amount of employment placement and worker dispatching business was 315.280 billion yen, a decrease of 5.7% from the same month the year before, and the number of persons employed totaled 242 thousand, a decrease of 5.8% from the same month the year before.

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

Thursday, July 1, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:196KB)

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Favorable”- “Unfavorable”) for business conditions in large enterprises of the manufacturing was 1 (-14 in the previous quarter and forecast 3 in the coming quarter), and the non-manufacturing DI was -5 (-14 in the previous quarter and forecast -4 in the coming quarter).

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Excessive”- “Insufficient”) for employment conditions in large enterprises of all industries was 8 (13 in the previous quarter and forecast 6 in the coming quarter).

Business Sentiment(For Large Enterprise)

Other Reports

White Paper on Monodzukuri (FY2009)

Tuesday, June 1, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(PDF:623KB)

With regard to specific challenges facing enterprises of monodzukuri industries, a great number of enterprises pointed out that “product prices have gone down” compared to three years ago, that “competition in terms of product quality has intensified,” and that “the needs of customers have diversified.” It is evident that they find themselves in a difficult situation where, while product prices have dropped, quality competition has become more severe.

The majority of enterprises feel the number of managers/supervisors, cross-trained workers, technically skilled workers and highly skilled workers is insufficient.

In terms of the knowledge and skills companies expect from skilled workers, individual skills in individual fields are not sufficient. Capabilities to manage the whole production line, including knowledge and skills to rationalize the production process, are valued.

In terms of initiatives being undertaken for the purposes of developing the capabilities of skilled workers, focus is placed on “encouraging improvement and suggestions” concerning the production line and “technical education” in many cases, demonstrating high expectations in these areas.

It is necessary to develop career prospects for overall non-regular workers from a mid- to long-term perspective by appropriately evaluating their vocational capabilities and by making use of their capabilities for as long as possible.

Monthly Economic Report (June)

Friday, June 18, released by the Cabinet Office

Although the economy has been picking up steadilyand the foundation for a self-sustaining recovery is being laid, it remains in a difficult situation such as a high unemployment rate. (In the previous month, “Although the economy has been picking up steadily, it is only weakly self-sustaining and remains in a difficult situation such as a high unemployment rate.”)  

• Exports are increasing moderately. Industrial production is picking up. (The same as the previous month)
• Corporate profits are improving. Business investment is leveling off.(In the previous month, it was “starting to level off”)
• Firms' judgment on current business conditions is improving. However, small and medium-sized enterprises are cautious about the immediate future. (The same as the previous month)
• While the employment situation remains severe, movements of an incipient recovery can be seen recently. (The same as the previous month)
• Private consumption is 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 (June)

Monday, June 21, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, while the employment situation remains severe, movements of an incipient recovery can be seen recently. (The same as the previous month)