As announced on the 16th, GDP = gross domestic product from April to June was positive for the first time in two quarters, but the sluggish growth of "personal consumption" emerged again.

The government expects GDP to return to the front of the corona during this time, but experts have pointed out that personal consumption will continue to be difficult as the infection with the new coronavirus spreads rapidly.

As announced by the Cabinet Office on the 16th, the real growth rate of GDP from April to June, excluding price fluctuations, is on an annualized basis against the backdrop of increases in "exports" and "capital investment by companies." It was a positive 1.3%, the first positive in two quarters.



On the other hand, "individual consumption," which accounts for more than half of GDP, grew only 0.8% compared to the previous three months, and the impact of the state of emergency has re-emerged the sluggish consumption. rice field.



Regarding the outlook, the government is in the position that there is no change in the assumption that GDP will return to the front of Corona in the meantime, assuming that so-called "revenge consumption" is expected as vaccination progresses.



However, as the infection spreads rapidly these days, there is a view that if the deadline for the state of emergency is extended, the downward pressure on the economy will increase, and experts point out that personal consumption will continue to be severe. I am.



Toshihiro Nagahama, chief economist at Daiichi Seimei Keizai Kenkyusho, said, "The economy will not recover as long as behavioral restrictions are repeated." increase.

Hotel Matsuyama where occupancy rate drops and debt swells in Corona

The impact of the new corona has been prolonged, and the business situation of the hotel industry is becoming more serious.



Sales at a business hotel with 110 guest rooms near JR Matsuyama Station decreased by 60% from the previous year.



Due to the good location and reasonable price, the occupancy rate of the guest rooms in front of Corona was about 80% on average, but now it has dropped to about 50%.



The average monthly sales of this hotel is 10 million yen, but if you deduct the personnel expenses of 30 employees, utilities expenses, loan repayment, etc., it will be a deficit of about 6 million yen every month. It is said that the cumulative deficit up to July has exceeded 100 million yen.



Supporting cash flow is a system that allows corona to receive loans from financial institutions with virtually no interest or collateral as a support measure for Corona.



Since May last year, we have received a total of 100 million yen in loans from local banks and government-affiliated financial institutions.



Initially, I thought that the number of customers would recover and I would be able to repay it reasonably, but in Ehime Prefecture, the largest number of infected people was confirmed on the 13th of this month, and it is said that reservation cancellations are increasing again.



The hotel is working to cut costs by suspending the night business of its directly managed restaurant and reducing the number of employees by two, but the full-scale repayment of the corona-related loan, which is currently being deferred, is approaching two years later. It is said that anxiety about the future is only increasing.



President Ryuzo Ohashi, who runs the hotel, said, "If the debt increases any more, I don't know how to repay it. If this situation continues until the end of the year, not only us but the entire hotel industry will be in a situation where it is impossible. I think. "

Ishikawa Wajima, a long-established Japanese confectionery store that finds a way out with side business personnel

A long-established Japanese confectionery store in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, whose sales have fallen due to the spread of the new corona infection, is strengthening its online shopping business by having employees working for major IT companies in Tokyo cooperate in the form of "side jobs."



The 111-year-old Japanese sweets shop in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which is known as a tourist destination, has its signature product, "Maruyuzu Mochiko," which is steamed stuffed rice cakes in hollowed out "Yuzu."



President Masakatsu Nakaura (57) is trying to strengthen the online shopping business while sales are declining due to a decrease in tourists.



Five people who work for major IT companies and consulting companies in Tokyo are cooperating.



Since Ishikawa Prefecture met at a matching event held jointly with a human resources information service company, they all give advice to the store in the form of "side business."



While holding regular online meetings, the store has a full-scale site, such as posting a message that conveys your thoughts on making Japanese sweets and introducing various ways to enjoy it, such as "to match with sake." It was renewed to.



The widespread use of remotework in Corona is creating new connections between rural areas and Tokyo.



At the store, we would like to increase the monthly sales of online shopping to 1.5 million yen, which is about five times the sales before the renewal.



Mr. Nakaura, the president of "Yuzumochiko Sohonke Nakauraya," said, "I was forced into a difficult situation so that I thought it would go bankrupt at one point, but I would like to manage to recover my business performance with the help of five people. That's it. "