Economy Yen's purchasing power at all-time low

[thomas]

The yen depreciated as far as 161.20 to the U.S. dollar last Friday, the lowest in over 37 years. According to one estimate, Japanese households face a 90,000 JPY (USD 560) increase in their yearly expenses from higher prices for food and energy imports, as the country's weak currency drains purchasing power.

Saisuke Sakai, chief economist for Mizuho Research & Technologies, estimates that the average cost burden per household will rise 90,000 yen from last year if the Japanese currency stays around 160 to the dollar, even with measures to combat rising prices. If households become more frugal as a result, consumption could be suppressed. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week that additional electricity and gas subsidies will be provided from August to October to combat inflation.

The decline in purchasing power also has led to Japan losing out to other buyers for some items:

t has become more difficult to procure the U.S. meat used in Japan's ubiquitous gyudon fast-food beef bowls. The price offered by American producers has climbed 30% in one year due to a decrease in production. Japanese importers are unable to keep up, in part due to rising costs caused by the weak yen. "Other countries are snapping up what we can't buy," said the head of the livestock division at Sojitz Foods, an arm of general trader Sojitz. Beef imports from the U.S. in January to April were down 20% on the year. The wholesale price of European pork in Japan has surged about 40% in a year amid competition with other Asia nations to procure the meat. The price of Norwegian salmon has climbed 40% over three years, forcing some operators of conveyor-belt sushi restaurants to use lower-quality alternatives.

Paywall alert:

Yen's purchasing power hits all-time low, at one-third of peak

Japanese households see annual costs rise $560 on costlier food and energy

asia.nikkei.com

 

[mdchachi]

The precipitous fall of the Japanese yen

The Yen recently below 160 to the dollar, its lowest value in more than 30 years

theweek.com

Why is the yen losing value?

There are several factors, but it is mainly a "product of divergent monetary policy between the Bank of Japan and its developed-market peers — particularly the Federal Reserve," said Barron's. This is the result of a wide difference in interest rates between the U.S. and Japan; the Bank of Japan "has only just begun to ease off intense monetary stimulus, while the Fed and other central banks are years into tightening cycles."

How can the yen be saved?
The "grim reality" is that the "slide won't stop until the Federal Reserve relents on its higher-for-longer policy path. And [Japanese officials] have no control over that," said Bloomberg. Beyond this, all "efforts by officials in Tokyo to prop up the yen so far have fallen flat."

 

[johnnyG]

I paid 170/liter for regular over the weekend. High, but it doesn't seem especially high. That works out to about $4/gallon, which is about what I saw in chicago a couple weeks ago.

 

[Majestic]

In California its hovering at over $5/gallon.

 

[mdchachi]

Neither California or Chicago are representative of U.S. gas prices. Nationwide average is about $3.50/gallon right now.

 

[Petaris]

I paid 170/liter for regular over the weekend. High, but it doesn't seem especially high. That works out to about $4/gallon, which is about what I saw in chicago a couple weeks ago.

Chicago and most of the Chicagoland area. You have to go to Wisconsin to see the prices drop.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Around $3.50 here in Maine now.