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szdaily -> World Economy -> 
Japan’s economic growth forecast cut
    2021-07-15  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

JAPAN’S economy will grow at a slower pace than initially expected in the third quarter, as fresh coronavirus emergency curbs in Tokyo, extending through the Olympic Games, weigh on consumption, a Reuters poll found.

But analysts saw growth accelerating in the fourth quarter, with a majority expecting a “strong” or “very strong” boost from pent-up demand in the second half of the year, offering some signs of a brighter outlook.

The world’s third-largest economy was expected to grow an annualized 4.2 percent this quarter, according to the poll of around 40 economists taken between July 2 and 13, down from a 4.8 percent expansion projected last month. Economists also trimmed annualized growth for the second quarter to 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent.

“The state of emergency that started in Tokyo will likely have quite an impact on consumption,” said Nobuyasu Atago, chief economist at Ichiyoshi Securities.

“It’s likely that pent-up demand will materialize later than expected. A consumption recovery that was hoped for in July-September is being pushed back to the fourth quarter.”

The government introduced a new state of emergency in Tokyo this week that is due to last until Aug. 22, so through the July 23-Aug. 8 Olympic Games, fuelling fears of an extended hit on bars and restaurants, which are being asked to operate under shorter hours.

Japan’s economy has struggled to stage a convincing recovery this year due to the large toll the health crisis is taking on domestic demand, especially for services such as travel, dining out and other leisure activities.

The government will release its second-quarter gross domestic product estimate Aug. 16, after the economy saw an annualized 3.9 percent contraction in the January-March period.

The median poll forecast showed the economy would grow an annualized 4.6 percent in the fourth quarter, slightly higher than last month’s projection of a 4.4 percent expansion.

Forecasts for the current and next fiscal years were left unchanged at 3.6 percent and 2.6 percent growth, respectively.

Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile fresh food prices, will grow only 0.3 percent this fiscal year, slightly up from 0.2 percent projected last month, the poll showed.

Risks from the health crisis to the economy have prompted calls from ruling party lawmakers for additional stimulus spending to shore up growth.

Even with Japan’s vaccination rollout getting up to speed after a late start, all analysts flagged a resurgence of infections as the biggest risk to Japan’s economy this year.

But in a welcome sign, projections in the poll showed nearly 60 percent of analysts expected the boost to Japan’s economy this year from pent-up demand and built-up savings during the COVID-19 crisis to be “strong” or “very strong.”

That was larger than the 40 percent of analysts who projected it to be “weak,” and the one forecaster who said it would be “very weak.”

“It’s likely the [consumption] rebound will be quite strong from September to November,” said Masamichi Adachi, chief economist for Japan at UBS Securities, though adding that consumption may not expand much further next year.

Respondents were unanimous in saying the Bank of Japan (BOJ) would hold its short-term interest rate target at -0.1 percent and the 10-year bond yield target around 0 percent at its policy meeting July 15-16. (SD-Agencies)

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