Japan factory output up on growing export demand. Unemployment rate 5%

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100430/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_economy

By TOMOKO A. HOSAKA, Associated Press Writer Tomoko A. Hosaka, Associated Press Writer – Fri Apr 30, 12:21 am ET
TOKYO – Japan received an uneven assessment of its economic health Friday with indicators showing an increase in joblessness and ominously falling prices.

Unemployment worsened in March, and deflation intensified. At the same time, household spending rose and factory output expanded slightly on growing export demand.

Japan's seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose to 5 percent in the first increase in five months. The figure is up from 4.9 percent in February and missed Kyodo News agency's forecast for the rate to be unchanged.

The number of jobless totaled 3.5 million during the month, up 4.5 percent from a year earlier. Those with jobs fell 0.6 percent to 62.1 million.

The numbers underscore a patchy recovery facing the world's second biggest economy - but the slowest growing one in Asia. Robust growth in China and elsewhere in the region is fueling demand for Japanese cars and gadgets. Corporate profits are up, and business confidence is recovering.

[divideandconquer]

1. Gee, that could be over here if we bought American brand, American made cars!

"Automotive is another category where the U.S. ran a trade deficit in 2009. It imported $160 billion worth of cars, trucks and auto parts, while only exporting $81 billion, running a deficit of $79 billion."
<http://useconomy.about.com/od/tradepolicy/p/Trade_Deficit.htm>