Japan’s downturn could force new leader to boost stimulus
Worst ever postwar contraction
• Japan’s economy sank deeper into its worst postwar contraction in the second quarter as the coronavirus jolted businesses more than initially thought, underscoring the daunting task the new prime minister faces in averting a steeper recession.
Other data put that challenge in perspective, with household spending and wages falling in July as the impact of the pandemic kept consumption frail even after lockdown measures were lifted in May.
The world’s third- largest economy shrank an annualized 28.1 per cent in AprilJune, more than a preliminary reading of a 27.8 per cent contraction, revised gross domestic product ( GDP) data showed on Tuesday, suffering its worst postwar contraction.
The data will put the new prime minister, to be elected in a ruling party leadership race on Sept. 14, under pressure to take bolder economic support measures.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the front-runner to become next premier, has signalled his readiness to boost spending if he were to lead the country.
“The risk ahead is that the effect of measures taken so far, such as payouts to households, will peter out,” said Koichi Fujishiro, an economist at Dai- ichi Life Research Institute.
“If COVID-19 weighs heavily on wages, the new administration could take additional steps to help households.”
The government has so far unveiled a US$ 2- trillion package of stimulus measures, adding to an enhanced easing program from the Bank of Japan (BOJ).
Japan recently saw a renewed rise in infections but has been spared the kind of big casualties seen in western countries. Total infections stood at 72,321 as of Monday, with 1,380 deaths versus a global tally of over 27 million cases and more than 888,000 deaths.
The main culprit behind Tuesday’s downward GDP revision was a 4.7- per- cent drop in capital expenditure, much bigger than a preliminary 1.5- per- cent fall, suggesting the pandemic was hitting broader sectors of the economy.
“We can’t expect capital expenditure to strengthen much ahead. Companies won’t boost spending when the outlook is so uncertain,” said Hiroshi Miyazaki, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.
Japan’ s economy has shown some signs of life after suffering three- straight quarters of contraction, with factory output rising in July at the fastest pace on record thanks to rebounding demand for automobiles.
Ye t separate data on Tuesday suggest any recovery will likely be modest, as household spending fell a bigger-than-expected 7.6 per cent in July year- on- year, while real wages declined for the fifth- straight month, pointing to more pressure on consumer spending.
The health crisis has ravaged a broad array of sectors, with firms such as automaker Honda Motor Co. forecasting a 68-per-cent decrease in annual operating profit.
Analysts polled by Reuters in August said they expect the economy to shrink 5.6 per cent in the current fiscal year to next March, and grow just 3.3 per cent the following year.
The fresh batch of data will be among factors the BOJ will scrutinize at its rate review next week, when it is widely expected to keep monetary settings unchanged.
The central bank eased policy twice this year to pump money to cashstrapped small firms, complementing two big government spending packages.
The BOJ is widely expected to hold off on ramping up stimulus for now as steps to spur demand could get people moving more freely into shops and risk spreading the virus.
The global and domestic business climate has many Japan observers predicting a long and bumpy road to returning the economy to preCOVID levels.
“It will probably take a long time for the economy to normalize and return to levels before the pandemic,” said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai- ichi Life Research Institute.
COMPANIES WON’T BOOST SPENDING WHEN THE OUTLOOK IS SO UNCERTAIN.