Recent Statistical Survey Reports, March 2012

PDF format:293KB

Statistical Survey Reports

National Accounts (The 2nd Preliminary Estimates Oct.-Dec. 2011)

Thursday, March 8, released by the Cabinet Office

Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate (Seasonally Adjusted) was -0.2% (-0.7% on annual basis), an increase of 0.4 points (1.6 points on annual basis from the 1st preliminary estimates.
Of real GDP growth rate, 0.5% was contributed by domestic demand and -0.6% by external demand.

Compensation of Employees (real) was 0.7%.

Quartely Estimates of GDP: Oct. ~Dec. 2011 (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

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate (Senior and Junior High School) (End of January, 2012)

Friday, March 16, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of final-year senior high school students with preliminary job offers was 86.4%, an increase of 2.9 points from the same period of the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-year senior high school students was 1.21, 0.06 points higher than the same period of the previous year.

The ratio of job openings to applicants for final-year junior high school students was 0.64, 0.01 points higher than the same period of the previous year.

Trend in the percentage of final-year high school students
with official job offer

Survey on Situation of Preliminary Job Offers for New Graduate in Mar.2012 (University, etc.) (February 1, 2012)

Friday, March 16, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of final-year university students who got an official job offer to applicants was 80.5%, increased by 3.1 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year junior college students (female only) was 66.9%, increased by 3.8 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year technology college students (male only) was 98.0%, increased by 0.7 points from the same period a year earlier.

That of final-year vocational school students was 77.5%, increased by 8.0 points from the same period a year earlier.

Trend in the percentage of final-year university students
with official job offer

Indexes of Business Conditions January 2012 (Revised Release)

Friday, March 16, released by the Cabinet Office

The Coincident Index of Composite Index (CI, revised figures, 2005=100) in January was 92.7, a decrease of 0.3 points. And 3 months backward moving average increased for 0.46 points, and 7 months backward moving average increased for 0.27 points. So the Assessment of Coincident Index was “Signaling a possible turning point” (In the previous month, “Halting to fall”).

The Leading Index was 94.4, an increase of 1.1 points, and the Lagging Index was 83.8, a decrease of 2.5 points.

9th Longitudinal Survey of Adults in 21st Century (Continuous Survey on the livelihoods of the Japanese citizens)

Wednesday, March 21, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services in January

Wednesday, March 28, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The number of households of welfare recipients in January was 1,517,001 and the number of welfare recipients was 2,091,902.

Monthly Survey on Service Industries (Preliminary Report in January)

Thursday, March 29, released by the Ministry
of Internal Affairs and Communications (PDF:84KB)

The monthly sales amount of service industry in January 2012 was 21trillion yen, a decrease of 2.8 % from the same month the year before. The total number of persons working at the location of establishment in the industry was 24.34 million, a decrease of 4.3% from the same month the year before.

Indices of Industrial Production (February)

Friday, March 30, released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

The index of industrial production (seasonally adjusted) decreased by 1.2% from the previous month.

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

Consumer Price Index (February)

Friday, March 30, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The consumer price index for Japan in February 2012 was 99.8(2010=100), up 0.3% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.5, up 0.1% over the year.

The consumer price index for Ku-area of Tokyo in March 2012(preliminary) was 99.5(2010=100), down 0.1% over the year. Omitting Fresh food, the comprehensive index was 99.2, down 0.3% over the year.

Family Income and Expenditure Survey (February)

Friday, March 30, 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 increased by 2.5% 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 2.34 %, partner's income accounted for 0.49%, other household members' income accounted for -0.08% and so on.

The average monthly consumption expenditures for a worker's household with 2 or more family members was increased by 2.9% in real terms from the same month a year before.

Labour Force Survey (February)

Friday, March 30, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

The unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 4.5%, decreased by 0.1 point from the previous month. That for men was 4.7%, decreased by 0.2 point from the previous month and that for women was 4.2%, decreased by 0.2 point from the previous month.

The number of unemployed persons (seasonally adjusted) was 2.98 million, decreased by 70 thousand from the previous month.

The number of employees (seasonally adjusted) was 55.12 million, increased by 50 thousand from the previous month.

Report on Employment Service (February)

Friday, March 30, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The ratio of active job openings to applicants (seasonally adjusted) was 0.75, increased by 0.02 point from the previous month.

Trend in Unemployment Rate and Ratio of Active Job
Openings to Applicants (seasonally adjusted)

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

Monday, April 2, released by the Bank of Japan(PDF:184KB)

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

The Diffusion Index (DI) (“Excessive”- “Insufficient”) for employment conditions in large enterprises of all industries was 3 % point (4 in the previous quarter and forecast 2 in the coming quarter).

Business Sentiment(For Large Enterprise)

Monthly Labour Survey (Final Report in January)

Tuesday, April 3, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Total amount of cash earnings (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) decreased by 0.9% from a year earlier, and contractual cash earnings unchanged from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings decreased by 0.1%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 2.9%, and special cash earnings decreased by 19.6% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) decreased by 1.0% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees decreased by 0.8% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

Monthly Labour Survey (Preliminary Report in February/ Year-end bonus)

Tuesday, April 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 0.7% from a year earlier and contractual cash earnings increased by 0.9% from a year earlier.

Scheduled cash earnings increased by 0.7%, non-scheduled cash earnings increased by 3.4%, and special cash earnings decreased by 17.7% from a year earlier. Real wage (total) increased by 0.4% from a year earlier.

Non-scheduled hours worked by manufacturing industry workers at business establishments with 5 or more employees increased by 4.1% from the previous month (seasonally adjusted).

The amount of year-end bonus in 2011 (for business establishments with 5 or more employees) was 372,471yen, decreased by 1.9% from the previous year.

Other Reports

Monthly Economic Report (March)

Wednesday, March 21, released by the Cabinet Office

The Japanese economy is still picking up slowly, while difficulties continue to prevail due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. (The same as the previous month)

• Industrial production is still picking up slowly. Exports are weakening recently. (The same as the previous month)
• Corporate profits have decreased. Business investment is picking up recently. (In the previous month, “Business investment is leveling off while weak movements are seen recently.”)
• Firms' judgment on current business conditions shows a small improvement although that for large manufactures is deteriorating. Overall, firms are cautious about the immediate future. (The same as the previous month)
• The employment situation still remains severe partly due to the earthquake disaster, although it also exhibits signs of picking up. (The same as the previous month)
• Private consumption holds firm. (In the previous month, “Private consumption holds firm recently.”)
• Recent price developments indicate that the Japanese economy is in a mild deflationary phase. (The same as the previous month)

Monthly Economic Labour Report (March)

Thursday, March 22, released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

The employment situation still remains severe partly due to the earthquake disaster, although it also exhibits signs of picking up. (The same as the previous month)