Recent Statistical Survey Reports, April 2009

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Statistical Survey Reports

Indexes of Business Conditions (Preliminary Report for February)

Monday, April 6, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, preliminary figures, 2005=100) in February was 86.8, a decrease of 2.7 points, 3 months backward moving average decreased for 7 consecutive months, a decrease of 2.60 points, and 7 months backward moving average decreased for 12 consecutive months, a decrease of 2.27 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “Worsening”. The Leading Index was 75.2, a decrease of 2.0 points, and the Lagging Index was 90.5, a decrease of 0.8 points.

Survey on Corporate Successive Holidays Plan in “Golden-Week”(*)

Tuesday, April 14

The average number of successive days of holidays provided by companies during the “Golden-Week” of this year was 5.5, increased from the previous year (5.2days), while the average number of total holidays provided by companies during the “Golden-Week” was 5.6, increased from the previous year (5.4days).

(*)This fiscal year, National Federation of Labour Standards Associations conducted the survey, entrusted by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Indices of Industrial Production (March)

Thursday, April 30, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) increased by 1.6% from the previous month.

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to increase in April and May. The Synthetic judgment is “Industrial Production appears sluggish.”

Consumer Price Index (March and FY2008)

Friday, May 1, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The Consumer Price Index was 100.7, a decrease of 0.3% from the same month the year before, decreased for 2 consecutive months. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 100.7, decreased by 0.1% from the same month the year before.

And in the ward -areas of Tokyo in April, the former accounted for 100.6, a decrease of 0.2% from the same month the year before. Omitting Fresh food, the latter accounted for 100.7, unchanged from the previous year.

The Consumer Price Index in FY2008 was 101.7, an increase of 1.1% from a previous fiscal year, it increased for 3 consecutive years.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (March)

Friday, May 1, 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 2.0% in real terms from the same month a year before.

With regard to the income contributing to increase - decrease rate, contribution of head of household's income accounted for -2.13 %, partner's income accounted for 0.41%.

Labour Force Survey (March and FY2008)

Friday, May 1, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Report on Employment Service (March and FY2008)

Friday, May 1, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.8%, increased by 0.4 points from the previous month. That for men was 4.9%, increased by 0.5 points from the previous month, and that for women was 4.7%, increased by 0.3 points from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons increased by 670 thousand from a year earlier to 3.35 million.

The number of employees decreased by 470 thousand from the previous month to 4.63 million.

The unemployment rate in FY2008 increased by 0.3points from the previous fiscal year to 4.1% (increased for the first time in 6 years).

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.52, decreased by 0.07 points from the previous month.

The ratio of active job openings to applicants in FY2008 was 0.77, decreased by 0.25 points from the previous fiscal year.

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 March)

Friday, May 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 3.7% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings decreased by 2.8% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 1.3%, while non-scheduled cash earnings decreased by 20.8% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 3.5% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees decreased by 1.7% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (April)

Friday, April 17, released by the Cabinet Officeopen new window

The economy is worsening rapidly while in a severe situation. (The same as the previous month)

  • Exports are decreasing substantially. Industrial production is decreasing very substantially. (In the previous month, it was “very substantially”.)
  • Corporate profits are decreasing very substantially and business investment is decreasing. (The same as the previous month)
  • The employment situation is getting worse rapidly. (The same as the previous month)
  • Private consumption is decreasing moderately. (The same as the previous month)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (April)

Monday, April 20, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

In looking at the aspects of labor and economy, the employment situation is getting worse rapidly. (The same as the previous month)

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