Newscasts - Japan economy: factory decline slows, employment picks up

KDDI

30/12/2024 03:26

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Source: 'Reuters - Business videos'

Description: Japan's factory activity shrank at a slower pace in December as
declines in production and new orders eased, a private-sector survey showed on
Monday, edging closer to stabilization after recent falls. Julian
Satterthwaite reports.
Short Link: https://refini.tv/4iYSMJw

Video Transcript:

Japan's factories might be turning the corner. Figures out Monday showed
activity still shrinking but at a slower pace. The closely watched au Jibun
Bank purchasing managers index for manufacturing rose to 49.6 in December.
That's up on the month before and closer to the key 50-point mark that
indicates rising activity. Declines in new orders eased but still remain down
for a 19th straight month. Japan has been battling subdued demand both at home
and in key overseas markets. Some firms in the latest survey suggested
weakness in the market for semiconductors was behind the latest negative
figure. Employment showed signs of a pickup though. It expanded in December,
reversing the previous month's fall and hitting its highest level since April.
Firms said they were hiring more workers due to labor shortages and in
preparation for future demand. Other figures showed inflation being boosted by
the weak Yen, which makes imports more expensive. As a result, firms raised
their output prices at the fastest pace in five months