Japan Unexpectedly Announces New Stimulus

NPR

Published October 31, 2014 at 1:35 PM EDT

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda speaks before the press at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on October 31, 2014. The BOJ ramped up its vast monetary easing programme following a string of poor data that has fanned fears the economy may contract again in the third quarter. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

The Bank of Japan today unexpectedly announced new economic stimulus measures. The move comes amid continued concerns about the country’s economy and follows an April national sales tax increase that put a damper on consumer spending.

The BBC‘s Tokyo correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, spoke with Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson about the surprising news from Japan.

Note: This BBC interview can be heard in the Here & Now podcast or with the WBUR app.

Guest

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, Tokyo correspondent for the BBC.