TOKYO — Japan’s unemployment rate crept up and job availability slid in April, data showed on Friday, underscoring the pain the country’s prolonged battle with COVID-19 is inflicting on the economy.
Separate data showed core consumer prices in Tokyo fell in May, reinforcing expectations inflation will remain well below the central bank’s 2% target for the time being.
The government is looking to extend the state of emergency curbs to combat the pandemic by about three weeks to June 20, a cabinet minister said on Friday, clouding the outlook for the fragile recovery.
Japan’s jobless rate rose to 2.8% in April from 2.6% in March, government data showed on …
Keep on reading: Japan’s jobless rate rises, prices fall as pandemic pain persists