East Asia Econ

Japan – higher asset prices not enough for households

Today's data for June exports and Q1 household incomes illustrate three of the big macro themes of the moment: Japan's role in the AI infrastructure supply chain, the benefits for households of buoyant asset markets, and why politicians are nonetheless talking about fiscal help for households.

Paul Cavey

Jul 22, 2026 • 2 min read

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East Asia Today

In Japan, June export data and Q1 household incomes. Korea's Q3 loan officer survey was mixed, while PPI inflation was strong. Taiwan's labour market remains tight, with the unemployment rate anchored at 20-year lows.

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Korea – mixed loan demand, firm PPI

In the Q3 loan officer survey, lower mortgage demand was offset by higher demand for other household loans. That points to the continuing risk of lending to finance stock purchases. The impact of the surge in equity market activity can also be seen in today's June PPI report.

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East Asia Today

Korean export growth for the first 20 days of July accelerated again to over 60%, led by semiconductors, which in turn produced a further widening of the trade surplus. In Taiwan, export orders in June also grew near 60% YoY, and rose in level terms to a new all-time high.