Recent Statistical Survey Reports, December 2006

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for October)

Wednesday, December 6, released by the Cabinet Office

The Leading Index was 50.0%, the Coincident Index was 77.8%, and the Lagging Index was 0.0%.

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

Friday, December 8, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) increased by 0.2% (0.8% on annual basis) from the previous quarters.

Of real GDP growth rate, -0.2% was contributed by domestic demand and 0.4% by external demand.

Employment Situation of Handicapped Persons (Jun 1.2006)

Thursday, December 14, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The real employment rate of handicapped persons in private sector companies was 1.52%.

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

Friday, December 15, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:166KB)

The Diffusion Index (DI) ("Favorable" - "Unfavorable") for business sentiment in large enterprises for manufacturing was 25 (24 in the previous quarter and forecast 22 in the coming quarter). For non-manufacturing DI was 22 (20 in the previous quarter and forecast 20 in the coming quarter).

The Diffusion Index (DI) ("Excessive" - "Insufficient") for employment sentiment in large enterprises of all industries was -11(-8 in the previous quarter and forecast -13 in the coming quarter).

Special survey of the Monthly Labor Survey (2006)

Friday, December 15, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Contractual cash earnings (for establishments with less than 5 employees) in July was 190,749 yen, decreased by 0.1% from a year earlier. Contractual cash earnings for establishments with more than 5 employees decreased by 0.1% from a year earlier.

Survey on Employment Trends (2006)

Tuesday, December 19, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of gross labor turnover was 8.29million (the number of job accession was 4.18 million, and that of job separation was 4.11 million). The ratio of job accession was 9.6% and separation rate was 9.4%.

Population Projections for Japan (estimates in December. 2006)

Wednesday December 20, released by the National Institute of Population
and Social Security Research(PDF:5.792KB)

Japan’s estimated population will fall to less than 90 million (89,930,000) in 2055.

Basic Survey on Labor Unions

Thursday, December 21, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of labor union members was 10.041 million (decreased by 1.0%; 98 thousand from the previous year), a decrease for the 12th consecutive year.

The estimated unionization rate was 18.2%, which decreased by 0.5 points from 18.7% in last year.

Survey on Wage Increase (2006)

Friday, December 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of enterprises which planned to increase average wages per employees was 77.5% (up by 4.0 percentage points from a year earlier), while 1.3% of enterprises planned to decrease them by 1.5 percentage points from the previous year.

The average amount of revised wage was 4,341 yen based on weighted average of regular workers, and the average wage revision rate was 1.6%. Both of them were increased from the previous year.

Consumer Price Index (November)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The consumer price index was 100.1, increased by 0.3% from the previous year. And in the Ward- areas of Tokyo in December, it was 100.1, increased by 0.3% from the previous year.

The consumer price index in the Ward-areas of Tokyo in 2006 increased by 0.1% from the previous year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (November)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for workers' household increased by 1.7% in real values from the same month the year before.

Labour Force Survey (November)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (November)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.0%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous month.

That for men was 4.2%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous month, that for women was 3.7%, decreased by 0.1 points from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons decreased by 330 thousand from a year earlier to 2.59 million.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 40 thousand people to 54.87 million people from the previous month.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 1.06, unchanged from the previous month.

Report on Job Introduction Business (FY2005)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of new job applicants was 1.78 million, increased by 9.3% from the previous fiscal year. The number of job openings increased by 34.6% to 2.46 million. The number of employment increased by 14.6% to 340 thousand.

Report on Manpower Dispatching Business (FY2005)

Tuesday, December 26 released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of dispatched workers in FY2004 increased by 12.4% to 2.55 million.

The average pay for a regular dispatched worker (in terms of 8-hour work) decreased by 4.4% to 15,257 yen, while that for a specified dispatched worker decreased by 10.1% to 23,028 yen.

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in November)

Thursday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

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

Non-scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for business establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) increased by 0.8% from the previous month.

Indices of Industrial Production (Preliminary Report for November)

Thursday, December 28, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased by 0.7 % from the previous month.

This index is expected to increase in December and to decrease in January.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (December)

Monday, December 25, released by the Cabinet Office

The economy is recovering, despite some weakness in consumption.

• Corporate profits are improving and business investment is increasing.
• The employment situation is improving on a broader basis, though some severe aspects remain.
• Private consumption is almost flat.
• Exports are leveling off and industrial production is increasing moderately.

Monthly Economic Labour Report (December)

Tuesday, December 26, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment situation shows an expansion of improvement though some severe aspects remain. For example, the unemployment rate is declining, though still remains at a high level, and wages are steadily increasing.