BoJ maintains assessment for all of Japan's nine regions

In its quarterly regional economic report published on Monday, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintains the assessment for all of Japan's nine regions.

Additional takeaways

• All regions said their economies recovering moderately or picking up, picking up moderately..
• Many regions said consumption on firm note for both services, consumption.
• Some regions said output increasing such as for automobiles.
• Many branches said must be vigilant to impact of trade policy as firms in their regions saw heightened uncertainty on impact to output, profits.
• Many branches said can expect broad range of firms in their regions to offer strong pay hikes this year.
• Some regions said smaller firms still cautious of pay hikes due to severe profit conditions.
• Many regions said pass through of high import costs continuing.
• Many regions seeing broadening of firms implementing or considering pass-through of expected rise in labour costs via price hikes.
• Some regions said some firms continuing to cut or maintain prices, increase line-up of low-price goods due to soft consumption.

Market reaction

USD/JPY is back at around 146.00 following these headlines, losing 0.58% on the day.