Japan industrial output up, as recovery takes hold

If indeed economy is doing so well....no need for Y5 trillion stimulus (!)

paving the way for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to approve a sales tax hike next April

Thought Abe had already approved the tax hike.

That's all good - but still waiting for that salary rise.

why is it cyclic? i dont understand, that too monthly cycles, which are so small duration..

The biggest increases in outlays were for public transport, at 10%, and school fees, which jumped a whopping 55%. Purchases of bicycles doubled while vehicle purchases fell 15%.

I've never heard of an economic recovery based on the doubling of school fees, fewer cars and more bicycles before. Double the number of bicycles (that's not possible) and 15% fewer cars? Really? People increasingly can't afford to run cars and take more buses and trains. That's positive is it?

Saxon Salute. I was thinking the same thing. If household spending went to public transport and school fees, that is not helping the retail economy at all. While buying bicycles is a good thing in many ways, it certainly does not indicate a recovering economy. It indicates the opposite. People cannot afford to drive a car.

Let us hope that these foreign companies acquired by the Japanese don't become dumping grounds for near retirement Japanese executives or they'll kill growth both at domestic & international level.