Japan changes the game: inflation below 1%!

Japan is experiencing a significant shift in its economic landscape. Wholesale inflation, a key indicator of economic health, has shown a marked slowdown, dropping below 1% for the first time in over two and a half years in October 2020. This phenomenon not only marks a pivotal moment in the Japanese economy but also raises questions about the future dynamics of inflation and global monetary policies.

According to analysts, this inflation slowdown could be the result of a combination of factors, including decreasing costs of raw materials and energy, as well as the impact of government subsidies aimed at reducing gasoline and household utility bills. These dynamics align with the projections of the Bank of Japan, which predicts a decline in cost-related inflationary pressures, with increasing attention to the role that wages and household expenses will play in generating demand-driven consumer price increases.

The Corporate Goods Price Index (CGPI), which measures the prices that businesses charge each other for goods and services, showed a 0.8% increase in October compared to the previous year, slightly lower than the market’s forecast of a 0.9% increase. This modest increase signals a significant slowdown compared to the 2.2% increase recorded in September. It is the tenth consecutive month of decelerating wholesale inflation, with an annual growth rate of less than 1% for the first time since February 2021.

This slowdown can be attributed to the decline in prices of wood, chemicals, and steel, reflecting the impact of reduced global raw material costs. These dynamics have prompted many Japanese companies to pass on higher costs to families, a trend that led the Bank of Japan to update its inflation forecasts in the quarterly projections released in October.

The Bank of Japan has stated that cost-induced inflation will ease and must be replaced by price increases more oriented towards robust domestic demand in order to consider the end of ultra-low interest rates. Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has indicated that Japan is progressing towards the sustainable achievement of the bank’s 2% target, signaling that the conditions for exiting ultra-expansive monetary policy are gradually taking shape.

This slowdown in wholesale inflation in Japan is a phenomenon that deserves attention not only at the national level but also internationally. It signals a potential shift in the global inflationary cycle, especially in a context where many nations are still grappling with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering effects on the economy.

The case of Japan offers a window into global economic dynamics and monetary policies. As the country approaches the end of the fiscal year in March 2024, the eyes of economists and policymakers around the world will remain focused on how Japan manages this phase of economic transition and what lessons can be learned for other evolving economies.