ECONOMY

Raising wage levels will ensure that the economy breaks free from deflation and working conditions for non-regular workers improve. To accomplish these goals, we want the government to swiftly create an environment in which increases in the minimum wage can be steadily continued. (the-japan-news.com)

Over the years, numerous reasons have been provided for Japan's prolonged deflation problem. These have ranged from automation to mindset problems. Amazon.com, Inc. is the latest culprit to be assigned the blame. (investopedia.com)

Japan's severe labor shortage is at levels last seen about a quarter-century ago, states a government white paper presented to the Cabinet on Friday which also highlights the country's need to resolve the issue in order to achieve sustainable economic growth. (Japan Times)

Policymakers at the Bank of Japan have decided to continue with their easing program in a bid to achieve a 2-percent inflation target. But the officials have revised the forecast date for meeting the target. They say an extra year is needed. (NHK)

Even unrealistically robust economic and productivity growth would not be enough to bring Japan's primary balance into the black by fiscal 2020, government estimates released Tuesday show. (Nikkei)

Japanese manufacturers' and service providers' business confidence held steady at high levels in July, a Reuters poll found on Wednesday, underlining the central bank's upbeat view on the economy. (Reuters)

Japan's gross domestic product in fiscal 2018 is forecast to increase 1.4 pct from the previous year in price-adjusted real terms, the Cabinet Office said Friday. (Jiji)

Chief negotiators from the 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership countries met Wednesday in the hot-spring resort town of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, to discuss how to breathe fresh life into the massive free trade deal after the U.S. withdrew. (Japan Times)

Japan will be holding talks on a Pacific Rim trade initiative rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump beginning Wednesday in the mountain resort town of Hakone, west of Tokyo. (Japan Today)

Japanese companies have never been in better financial shape. Their sky-high ratio of capital to assets testifies to that fact, with the average figure topping 40% for the first time last fiscal year. There's a catch, however: They are inveterate hoarders, which critics say points to a corporate governance problem. (Nikkei)