Japan industrial output up, as recovery takes hold

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

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.

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.