Also, on the 18th, the GDP for the year to March will be settled.
In terms of the real growth rate excluding price fluctuations, the largest decline ever since 1995, when comparisons were made, was minus 3.6% in 2008, when the Lehman shock occurred.
We are also paying attention to the GDP in 2020, which was greatly affected by the spread of the new coronavirus.
GDP reveals how much production and consumption is done in Japan during the three months from January to March, and as a result, how much the Japanese economy has grown as a whole.
According to the data, consumption was once again braked during this period due to the re-expansion of the new coronavirus infection, including the second state of emergency.
Personal consumption
This graph is a household survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that shows the movement of personal consumption.
You can see the change in the amount of money spent by two or more households.
Looking at the index with 2015 as 100, consumption that increased in the latter half of last year fell again from January to March.
The second state of emergency drastically reduced consumption of clothing and entertainment.
This is the number of guests staying at hotels and inns in Japan.
Compared to 2019 to eliminate the impact of corona.
Even after entering this year, the severe situation has continued.
Some inns have increased sales while reducing management
There is a hot spring inn that has succeeded in turning a profit by increasing sales while reducing management while tourism demand is declining.
Keinobu Shimizu (41)'s hot spring inn in the Oirase Gorge in Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, opened three years ago.
In order to prevent "denseness" by guests, we decided to operate only 6 of the 10 guest rooms since March last year when the infection began to spread.
Mr. Shimizu is closed three days a week from Tuesday to Thursday, spending time looking for local ingredients such as vegetables and fish while enjoying his hobby touring.
The special dishes made with the ingredients purchased by visiting the producers gradually gained popularity, and last year, they were selected as the “No. 1 accommodation facility in Aomori Prefecture” by a major travel site.
While reducing the number of rooms, last year's sales increased by more than 10% from the previous year, and there was also the effect of reducing labor costs, etc.
Mr. Shimizu said, "I would like to help you enjoy your trip to Aomori with a business that fits your height without overdoing it."
Corporate activities
Meanwhile, production continues to recover.
The "Minning and Industrial Production Index," which indicates the production activity of companies, fell to 77.2 in May last year, but in March it returned to 97.7, almost the level before Corona, due to an increase in automobile production.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has determined that "production is picking up."
export
Exports are also increasing.
Due to the increase in exports of automobiles to Europe and the United States, the export value exceeded 7 trillion yen for the first time in two years in March.
Based on these indicators, GDP from January to March will be aggregated and announced.
Auto parts manufacturers working on new fields
Some auto parts manufacturers have embarked on new territory.
"Bushu Kogyo", which has about 150 employees in Ome City, Tokyo, manufactures pipes used for automobile air conditioners and radiators. Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, sales fell to about 30% of the average year in June last year, and then returned to about 80%, but the recovery has leveled off due to sluggish automobile exports.
In order to improve work efficiency, we are introducing a device that automatically performs inspection work that employees have done with their eyes using AI = artificial intelligence.
On the other hand, thinking that future growth cannot be expected in the field of automobiles alone, we developed a stand that emits disinfectant when the pedal is pressed, and started an initiative to sell it directly online last summer. We also released a video that emphasizes the robustness, and it is said that 1800 stands have been sold to public facilities and hospitals so far, with a stand of about 17,000 yen per unit.
In addition, we are considering starting to manufacture parts for semiconductor manufacturing equipment in anticipation of market expansion.
Chairman Hideo Hayashi said, "I don't feel that demand is expanding steadily in the automobile industry, and the lifestyle has changed with the new corona, so I think it's no good to do the same thing as before. I think that I have more opportunities to work on new things, and I want to find a job that can utilize my strength. "