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Japan economy shrinks at record 15.2 percent pace
Google/AP ^ | 5/20/2009 | Tomoko Hosaka

Posted on 05/20/2009 9:05:24 AM PDT by mojito

Japan's economy shrank at a record 15.2 percent annual pace in the first quarter, dragged down by plunging exports, thinner factory output and wary shoppers.

But within the details emerged new hope. Economists said the worst is over for the world's second-largest economy. Many predicted it would grow in the April-June period amid aggressive stimulus steps by the government and signs that companies are boosting production....

The drop in gross domestic product was the steepest since Japan began compiling such statistics in 1955. Compared to the previous three months, GDP fell 4 percent, in the fourth straight quarter that the economy withered.

The results were markedly worse than for other major economies....

Like its Asian neighbors, Japan has been pummeled by the unprecedented collapse in global demand triggered last year by the U.S. financial crisis. Manufacturers such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp. have had to suspend production and shut down plants. They have laid off thousands of workers, contributing to a rising jobless rate that could drag on any nascent recovery.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Japan
KEYWORDS: depression; japan
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To: snowsislander; altair
Although its changed a bit in last week, it was down in the mid to high 80's late last year.


21 posted on 05/21/2009 4:00:47 AM PDT by gondramB
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To: Forward the Light Brigade

The Japanese economic model had many fascist elements when it was being touted. MITI, Postal Savings and the like were heavy government involvement in the economy. We are headed in that direction now . . .


22 posted on 05/21/2009 4:43:46 AM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Do you really think this can be called a depression?


23 posted on 05/21/2009 4:44:32 AM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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To: Woebama

It’s not my definition. Economies that are heavily dependent upon manufacturing for export are verging on depression, if they’re not already in one, in my opinion.

But, governments and news media appear to be at pains to avoid using the term.


24 posted on 05/21/2009 7:39:05 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: RegulatorCountry

Well, if people start using the term depression they’ll change their behavior, hiring, purchasing and so forth even more than they already have. I can understand why the government wouldn’t use it. As far as the media goes, they’ll have egg on their face if they say “depression” and it’s wrong. 9% unemployment here in the USA isn’t what we saw in the great depression. It’s better by far. The length of this recession is now at 16 months, which makes it the longest recession in history if it doesn’t lift by the end of the quarter.


25 posted on 05/21/2009 9:50:42 AM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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To: Woebama

The United States economy is not heavily dependent upon export manufacturing, Woebama. Most nations whose economies are heavily dependent upon export manufacturing, unlike the US, also have experienced 10% or greater year-over-year declines in GDP. This is the classic definition of economic depression.

Also, US unemployment is not calculated in a similar manner now, in comparison to the 20 - 25% Great Depression numbers we’re accustomed to seeing. That 9% or so national average would be considerably higher, if the same methods were used now. For a close approximation, look to the U-6 unemployment numbers, instead of the U-3 numbers.


26 posted on 05/21/2009 11:03:55 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: RegulatorCountry

I hadn’t read much about U-3 and U-6 data. A quick google turned this up. If you have a good link I’d love to learn more.

http://www.economicpopulist.org/?q=content/u3-and-u6-unemployment-during-great-depression


27 posted on 05/21/2009 4:44:06 PM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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To: Jakarta ex-pat

It will be called World Socialism (Until the west and its allies are “dead”.)
___________________________

Pray for the strength of our people. We are still the last best hope of mankind . . . and we are tottering.

I can imagine the pain that 15% down causes in an economy. The industry/region/company I’m in is down by over that amount in the past year. Lots of pressure, job insecurity even for the survivors, more layoffs /firings to come, and most people are not in a strong financial position to handle unemployment because their incomes have been lower for the past year and a quarter already, so bonuses down / non-existant / commissions down / customer complaints up since they are in financial distress. Businesses that have been customers for 25 years are going out of business — in the red for the last few years already.

15% is tough but that amount down overall for the economy means that specific industries are down by far, far more than that. I feel for those families.


28 posted on 05/22/2009 6:11:08 AM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

I was thinking of a “D” word other than disastrous, myself, but the MSM seem to be at pains to avoid that one.
__________________________________________________________

I just googled depression 2009 . . . no stories on it come up since march 2009 . . .


29 posted on 05/27/2009 8:00:32 AM PDT by Woebama (Paying for my neighbor's mortgage and Wall Street's bonuses sure is hard.)
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