Recent Statistical Survey Reports, November 2008

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for September)

Thursday, November 6, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of CI (Preliminary figures, 2005=100) in September was 100.8, an increase of 0.1 points, 3 months backward moving average decreased for 2 consecutive months, a decrease of 0.53 points, and 7 months backward moving average decreased for 7 consecutive months, a decrease of 0.58 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “Worsening”. The Leading Index was 89.2, an increase of 0.2 points, and the Lagging Index was 99.5, a decrease of 1.0 points.

General Survey on Diversification of Working Styles

Friday, November 7, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

By working styles, the ratio of regular employees was 62.2% (September 1, 2007) (65.4% in the previous survey of September 1, 2003), that of non-regular employees was 37.8% (34.6% in the previous survey). As for non-regular employees, the ratio of part-time employees was 22.5% (23.0% in the previous survey), that of the dispatched employees was 4.7% (2.0% in the previous survey).

Regarding the ratio of employees except for regular employees, by industry, part-time workers recorded higher ratio in the catering establishment and lodging industry (55.6%) and the whole sale and retail trade (36.9%), while dispatched worker recorded higher ratio in the information and telecommunication industry (9.9%), manufacturing (9.8%) and finance and insurance industry (9.5%). As for contracted employees, it showed higher ratio in the education and insurance industry (9.6%) and the information and telecommunication industry (5.0%).

Regarding the reasons why business establishments hired non-regular employees, many of them answered as follows (multiple answers, up to 3 answers). “To cut the wage” accounted for 40.8%, “to deal with the business fluctuation in a day or week” and “to secure the work-ready and competent persons” accounted for 31.8% and 25.9% respectively.

Regarding the reasons why the employees except for regular employees and employees temporarily transferred to the affiliated company chose the current working styles, 42.0%, the highest employees answered “we can work at our convenient time”, followed by “to support family budget and school expenses” (34.8%), and “easy to manage to do housekeeping and other activities at the same time” (25.3%).

Employees who surveyed answered that there were no companies to be hired as a regular employee totaled 18.9%, and by working style, 37.3% of dispatched workers and 31.5% of contracted employees answered the same.

National Accounts (The 1st Preliminary Estimates of Expenditure in Jul.-Sep.)

Monday, November 17, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was -0.1% (-0.4% on annual basis).

Of real GDP growth rate, 0.1% was contributed by domestic demand and -0.2% 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

Basic Survey on Wage Structure (Starting Salary) (2008)

Thursday, November 20, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The amount of starting salary for college-graduates was 198,700 yen, increased by 1.5% from the previous year and that for graduates of senior high schools was 157,700 yen, increased by 1.3% from the previous year.

By sex, the amount of starting salary for college-graduates for men was 201,300 yen, increased by 1.3% from the previous year and that for graduates of senior high schools was 160,000 yen, increased by 0.8% from the previous year. For women, the former was 194,600 yen, increased by 1.7% from the previous year and the latter was 154,300 yen, increased by 2.3% from the previous year.

Indices of Industrial Production (October)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 3.1% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to decrease in November and December. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production is on a moderately downward trend.”

Consumer Price Index (October)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 102.6, an increase of 1.7% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 102.4, an increase of 1.9% from the previous year, both indexes increased for 13 consecutive months.

Andin the ward –areas of Tokyo in November, the former accounted for 101.4, an increase of 1.1% from the previous year. Omitting Fresh food, the latter accounted for 101.4, an increase of 1.1% from the previous year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (October)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The average monthly income for a worker’s household with 2 or more family members increased by 0.4% from the same month the year before.

Labour Force Survey (October)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (October)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 3.7%, decreased by 0.3 points from the previous month. That for men was 3.9%, decreased by 0.2 points from the previous month, and that for women was 3.5%, decreased by 0.4 points from the previous month.
The number of unemployed persons decreased by 160 thousand from a year earlier to 2.55 million. It increased for the first time in 7 months.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) increased by 90 thousand from the previous month to 55.26 million.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.80, decreased by 0.04 points from the previous month.

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

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate (Senior and Junior High School) (End of September)

Friday, November 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of final-year senior high school students with preliminary job offers was 51.0%, an increase of 1.3 points from the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-grade senior high school students was 1.52, 0.05 points lower than the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-grade junior high school students was 0.55, 0.04 points higher than the previous year.

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in October)

Monday, December 1, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 0.1% from a year earlier, contractual cash earnings decreased by 0.1% from a year ealier. The former decreased for the first time in 10 months and the latter decreased for the first time in 12 months. Scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.2%, non-scheduled cash earnings decreased by 3.1%. Real wage (total) decreased by 2.2% from a year earlier. It decreased for 7 consecutive months.

Non-scheduled hours worked in manufacturing (for business establishments with 5 or more employees, seasonally adjusted) decreased by 2.8% from the previous month.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (November)

Friday, November 21, released by the Cabinet Office

The economy has weakened further. Amid further slowdown in the global economy, the downward pressure on the Japanese economy is increasing rapidly.

• CorporateExports are decreasing. 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 (November)

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

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