The population of Japan peaked in 2008 at 128 million. With the fertility rate — or births per woman — falling below 1.5 at the beginning of the 1990s and falling as low as 1.29 in 2004, the population is shrinking rapidly. Already Japan has one million people fewer than in 2008. The government aims to keep the population above 100 million by 2060.
The Jat reservation agitation has caused considerable social and economic trauma in India, especially in the national capital region around New Delhi. The agitation began as a series of protests in Haryana in February 2016 by the Jat people who were seeking to be included in the list of so-called Backward Classes, which would entitle them to certain affirmative action policies.
Retail sales in America posted a surprising jump, as consumers are feeling more comfortable about opening their wallets. Retail sales rose 1.4% on a month-over-month basis in April after falling 0.3% in March on a seasonally adjusted basis. Sales also rose 2.7% on a year-over-year basis, with non-store retailers seeing a 10.2% gain on a year-over-year basis.
That jump helped to boost overall retail sales from February to April, which saw a 2.8% year-over-year gain.
EM ended last week on a soft note, and that weakness seems likely to carry over into this week. Dollar sentiment turned more positive after firm retail sales data on Friday, though US rates markets have yet to reflect any increase in Fed tightening expectations.
Over the weekend, China reported weaker than expected April IP, retail sales, and fixed asset investment. This continues a string of weak data for the month, and will undercut notions that the world’s second largest economy is stabilizing.
The week yielded a mixed bag of economic data indicating some strength in America’s recovery. A new Department of Labor study showed unemployment claims rose 20,000 to 294,000, ahead of economists’ expectations. As wages have risen and job openings continue to soar, economists expected more employers to find qualified workers and boost both incomes and the employment rate.
Due to anemic growth and an unstable world economy, Italy’s small business sector woes grow worse, according to The Wall Street Journal. Small businesses are vital to Italy’s economy, and the European Union (EU) relies on Italy and other EU nations to strengthen Eurozone GDP. The Italian prime minister has yet to instill policies that would bolster the economy.
India’s approach in negotiating regional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) is again in sharp focus. Concern is rising over long delays in concluding a number of major agreements of which India is a part. Foremost among these is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving the 10 ASEAN economies, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
As advanced manufacturing is about to accelerate in China, the rules of economic development could change across the world. About a year ago, China’s State Council unveiled a national plan, “Made in China 2025,” which seeks to upgrade China’s manufacturing base. The ultimate objective is to transform China into the leading global manufacturing power by 2049.
The price gap between houses and apartments in many Australian cities is closing as property investors exhibit a significant degree of herding behaviour, according to new research.
The research comes amid speculation that Australia is in a housing bubble. Herding behaviour is leading to excessive borrowing, further fuelling apartment prices, particularly in Sydney.
