Japan's Finance Ministry upgrades Hokkaido's economic outlook.

The Finance Ministry upgraded Hokkaido's economic outlook while keeping assessments steady for most regions, noting rising consumer budget-mindedness.

The Finance Ministry just dropped its quarterly report, and guess what? They upped the economic outlook for Hokkaido due to some solid personal consumption. While they held steady on their views for the other 10 regions, they’re feeling good about Hokkaido. Apparently, folks are keeping their wallets tight though, especially with those price hikes hitting us hard.

On production, it’s a mixed bag. They boosted outlooks for the Tohoku and Kanto regions, including Tokyo, and the area around Fukuoka, but pulled back on Hokuriku and Chugoku. Even though we’re seeing some slowness in smartphone and vehicle part production, AI semiconductor demand is off the charts! And hey, they’ve got good news for tourism in Okinawa, while employment stays stable across the board. All in all, the ministry thinks the overall Japanese economy is gradually recovering.

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