Japanese government officials have released their leading gauge of inflation. The Consumer Price Index rose for the 15th straight month in March. (NHK)

Japan logged a customs-cleared trade surplus of 797.3 billion yen in March, compared with 603.5 billion yen in surplus a year before, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday. (Jiji)

Japanese workers appear headed for their biggest wage increase in two decades as companies led by the logistics and retail sectors compete for a slice of the country's ever-shrinking workforce. (Nikkei)

The presence of women is increasing at the Bank of Japan after a series of measures to make it easier for employees to balance work with family life. (Jiji)

Japanese and Chinese ministers in charge of economic affairs have agreed to work together to develop infrastructure in third countries, based on an agreement reached by their leaders last year in a summit. (NHK)

Japan's population fell for the seventh straight year in 2017, with the native population dropping at a record pace, while the influx of foreign residents forestalled an even steeper decline. (Nikkei)

The Japanese government will focus on cutting social security spending with specific targets over the next three years or so, bracing for an accelerating rise in social security costs in and after fiscal 2022, when baby boomers begin to reach 75 years old, officials said Thursday. (Jiji)

An investigative panel of the Japan Pension Service held its first meeting Tuesday to review the organization's outsourcing of its work in the wake of the revelations of errors and contract violations by data input subcontractors. (Jiji)

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Monday started his second term by renewing his commitment to the central bank's target of achieving 2 pct inflation. (Jiji)

Japanese government officials have released data that measures the country's trade and investment with the rest of the world. They say the current account balance in February stayed in the black for the 44th straight month. (NHK)

The Japanese yen is the sweetheart of global speculators. Speculators loath uncertainty but thrive on calculated risk, and the yen offers unparalleled favorable odds for fast-paced global money managers. (Japan Times)

Japan’s longest run of economic expansion since the 1980s asset bubble may be entering a turning point, with data out on Friday suggesting consumption will fail to drive growth if trade frictions undermine exports. (Japan Times)

The escalating trade row between Washington and Beijing could impact Japanese companies that source production in China and export grain from U.S. subsidiaries. But many so far appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach on whether the world’s two largest economies will follow through on their proposed tariffs or find a solution that allows both to save face. (Japan Times)

A Bank of Japan survey shows that an increasing number of people feel they have become worse off, mainly because of rising prices. The central bank carries out the poll every 3 months to gauge consumer sentiment. (NHK)

The Bank of Japan is finding out just how hard it is to be stealthy — when everyone is looking right at you. (Japan Times)

Land prices in Japan's three biggest cities and their surrounding urban areas have increased for a fifth straight year. Prices are also starting to rise in the rest of the country, for the first time in 26 years. (NHK)

Singapore remains the world's most expensive city for the fifth consecutive year, with Paris, Zurich and Hong Kong following closely behind, according to the Worldwide Cost of Living Survey published on Thursday. (Japan Times)

Japan Exchange Group Inc. said Monday it has introduced artificial intelligence systems for market surveillance operations to detect price manipulations and other misconduct. (Jiji)

Overseas investors were net sellers of Japanese equities for the ninth straight week through March 9 as a strong yen and U.S. President Donald Trump's protectionist policies rattled markets. (Nikkei)

Eleven Pacific Rim countries signed the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership here Thursday afternoon, finalizing the trade and investment agreement just over a year after the American withdrawal left its fate in question. (Nikkei)