2015 4Q Japan’s real GDP growth: consumption dies due to tax hike, exports grow negatively due to strong yen

Japan’s GDP data for the 4th quarter of 2015 was published, revealing that the real GDP grew 0.66% (year-on-year), slowing down from 1.65% for the previous quarter.

2015-4q-japan-real-gdp-growth

The chart obviously shows the consumption tax hike in Apr, 2014 ruined the uptrend after Abenomics. We will review the elements of the GDP, which indicate more about what is actually happening in the Japanese economy.

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2015 4Q US GDP: the slowdown of the US economy becomes clearer, the exports sink due to the strong dollar

The US economy only grew 1.80% (year-on-year) in the 4th quarter of 2015, slowing down from 2.15% in the 3rd quarter, according to the real GDP data. Regarding its elements, the personal consumption, the fixed investment, the exports and the imports decelerated respectively.

2015-4q-us-real-gdp-growth

As you see in the chart, the worst element is the exports. It is also notable that the personal consumption did not accelerate despite the radical decline in energy prices.

Continue reading 2015 4Q US GDP: the slowdown of the US economy becomes clearer, the exports sink due to the strong dollar