Japan Data On Tap For Friday

(RTTNews) - Japan is scheduled to release a raft of data on Friday, setting the pace for a busy day in Asia-Pacific economic activity.

On tap are January figures for inflation, unemployment, household spending, industrial production, retail sales, housing starts and construction orders - as well as February results for the Nomura manufacturing PMI.

The inflation rate is expected to ease to 1.3 percent from 1.6 percent in December, while core CPI is called steady at 1.3 percent. The unemployment rate is expected to be unchanged at 3.7 percent, while household spending is tipped to add 0.5 percent on year after rising 0.7 percent in the previous month.

Industrial production is forecast to gain 2.8 percent on month and 9.4 percent on year after collecting 0.9 percent on month and 7.1 percent on year a month earlier. Retail sales are tipped to rise 1.3 percent on month and 3.8 percent on year after falling 1.2 percent on month and gaining 2.5 percent on year in December.

Housing starts are called higher by 15.0 percent on year after climbing 18.0 percent in the previous month. The manufacturing PMI saw a score of 56.6 in January.

New Zealand will see February results for the business confidence survey from NBNZ and the activity outlook from ANZ; in January, they saw scores of 64.1 and 53.5, respectively.

Australia will provide January numbers for private sector credit, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.5 percent on month and 4.1 percent on year after adding 0.5 percent on month and 3.9 percent on year in December.

South Korea will release January figures for industrial production; in December, output gained 3.4 percent on month and 2.6 percent on year.

Singapore will announce producer price data for January; in December, PPI was up 0.8 percent on month and 2.0 percent on year.

Malaysia also will see producer price numbers for January; in December, PPI was up 1.3 percent on month and 4.3 percent on year.

Thailand will provide January numbers for imports, exports, trade balance and current account. In December, imports were worth $16.28 billion and exports were at $18.28 billion for a surplus of $2.0. The current account deficit was $0.89 billion.

Finally, the stock market in Taiwan will be closed on Friday for Peace Memorial Day, and will re-open on Monday.