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BUSINESS

Economy

A suburb in Melbourne. Surging rents across many developed economies are proving to be a stubborn hurdle for central banks as they struggle to nail down inflation once and for all.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 8, 2024

Rents set to be last domino to fall in global inflation battle

Surging rents across many developed economies are proving to be a stubborn hurdle for central banks as they struggle to nail down inflation.

Visitors in Macau on May 2. More than a year since China reopened its borders, some 63% of its residents say they’re ready to return to exploring the world, according to a survey published on April 24.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 7, 2024

China’s thrifty travelers show consumer confidence is weak

While more traveled over the five-day Labor Day break in comparison with 2019, each of them spent less on average.

Over 300 companies went out of business in fiscal 2023 due to labor shortages, according to Teikoku Databank.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 6, 2024

Japan's labor crunch persists despite slight improvement

By Yukana Inoue

Companies involved in IT engineering fared the worst, with more than 7 in 10 saying they didn't have enough workers and had to resort to forgoing projects.

Over the past two years, 2.4 million people arrived in Canada, more than the population of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Yet Canada barely added enough housing that would cater to just the residents of the New Mexico capital of Albuquerque.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 6, 2024

Global housing shortages are crushing immigration-fueled growth

By Randy Thanthong-Knight, Swati Pandey and Tom Rees

In developed economies such as Canada, Australia and the U.K., life is getting tougher for both locals and immigrants alike.

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers

BUSINESS / Economy

May 4, 2024

Ex-U.S. Treasury chief says currency interventions fail even at Japan’s scale

By Christopher Anstey

Policymakers likely spent some ¥9 trillion this week, an analysis of Bank of Japan accounts shows.

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda holds a news conference after a policy meeting at the BOJ's headquarters in Tokyo on March 19.

BUSINESS / Economy

May 2, 2024

BOJ saw need to let markets drive yields upon March exit: minutes

By Leika Kihara

The bank ended eight years of negative interest rates and its bond yield control at its March policy meeting.

An electric screen displaying the Nikkei share average and yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Friday.

BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS

May 1, 2024

For Japan Inc., the weak yen may be too much of a good thing

By Daniel Leussink and David Dolan

The currency's weakness has pushed up costs of raw materials, food and fuel.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.

The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces

By Stephen Mansfield

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

Cultural properties:A Fujiya Hotel insider’s view

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