Description

This 2007 Article IV Consultation highlights that Japan’s external position remains strong. Boosted by investment income, the current account surplus widened in 2006 to nearly 4 percent of Japan’s GDP, despite a shrinking trade balance. Financial outflows also picked up, reflecting mainly the secular decline in investor home bias and to a lesser extent, yen-financed carry trades. The near-term economic outlook is favorable. GDP growth is projected at 2.6 percent in 2007 and 2.0 percent in 2008. With activity close to full capacity, CPI inflation is expected to pick up, but very slowly.

Taxonomy

Balance of payments , Economic cooperation , Economic policy , Exchange rate policy , Fiscal policy , Foreign exchange , Globalization , Inflation , Monetary policy , Tax policy

More publications in this series: IMF Staff Country Reports