Japan s economy narrowly averted a recession at the end of last year, barely growing in the fourth quarter on frail consumption, revised data showed on Thursday, underscoring the challenge for
A public weary of virus precautions pushed up consumption of goods and services, but the longer-term picture is uncertain as the global economy weakens.
Conventionally, a weak yen is believed to have benefits for the Japanese economy, as it helps exports, but the pandemic and Ukraine conflict complicate things this time around.
Japan’s economy rebounded in the final three months of 2021 as falling coronavirus cases helped prop up consumption, though rising raw material costs and a spike in new Omicron variant infections cloud the outlook. Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor Haruhiko Kuroda also highlighted escalating tensions in Ukraine as a fresh risk to the central bank’s .