Japan’s import bill climbed in August as higher oil prices drove up costs, while export volumes remained steady, adding pressure on the trade balance and household budgets.
Japan’s import bill climbed in August as higher oil prices drove up costs, while export volumes remained steady, adding pressure on the trade balance and household budgets.
Cheap energy was the trick holding this together. Now every barrel gets paid for in a weaker yen and thinner paychecks, while the central bank picks its favorite disaster — inflation or a currency in free fall. Households lose either way. There’s no clever fix coming. Just a longer, more expensive grind, and a government pretending it’s temporary.