Japan’s manufacturing continued to improve in January; In December 2009 industrial production, household spending and new jobs rose; Prices fell at record pace

Japan’s manufacturing continued to improve in January but new business growth was weak. At 52.5, the seasonally adjusted Nomura/JMMA PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) pointed to a moderate improvement in operating conditions in the Japanese manufacturing sector at the start of 2010. Japan’s industrial production  rose 2.2% in December 2009, from a month earlier, according to official figures released in Tokyo today. Exports to China climbed 42.8% last month, led by record demand for cars. Another report showed that household spending rose 2.1% in December from a year before and the economy added 130,000 jobs in December.

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