It is shown from Japan consumer price Index that their economy is moving towards deflation the overall sales show that the consumption of different commodities might not be supporting prices. The government has announced to pass a budget for 2009/10 probably on Friday. Government is facing immense pressure to spend more in order to stimulate consumer price index.

The main reason of this deflation is a slide in oil prices as the government makes efforts to pull out the country from deepening recession period.

There has been a larger fall in prices than what was expected in February retail sales that are yet another bad sign for the exports, as they are Japan’s main engine of growth.
Japanese inflation rate remains fixed in February, but economists warned that the country will face the deflation as soon as the global downturn hits demand at home and abroad.

In December the figure of the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rises 0.2% but become flat in January, in this CPI the volatile fresh food prices were excluded. The CPI remains unchanged from a year earlier although it was expected that there would be a small drop.
Prices slid by 0.1 percent on per year basis in the “core-core” index, which excludes the fresh food and energy prices.

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Mortgage rates in U.S. have fallen to another record low as the week closes. It is has declined for 10th consecutive week this time.

As Freddie Mac reported this Thursday that 30-year fixed rate mortgage yields have averaged about 5.01% for the week ending on January 8th, 2009. it is a 9 basis point decline from last weeks’ rate. It is nice to compare it with the rates this time last year. which were 5.87% .

Since The Govt. Sponsored Agency Freddie Mac started the survey(1971), this is the lowest reported level for these rates.

15-year fixed rate mortgage is even lower at 4.62%. It is has declined sharper from 4.80% levels of last week and a down hill slide of 5.43% level of this time, last year. It is said to be the lowest reported rate since June 13, 2003.

It is expected that this will impact on adjustable-rate mortgage especially the 5-year adjustable mortgages which averaged about 5.5% this week down from 5.7% last week.

Plain English: What does it mean for house owners

Well, the the house owners around US are struggling with increased cost of living and job uncertainty, these attractive rates can offer real relief in terms of monthly amount spent on home loan re-payments. Most of the homeowners will see this as an opportunity to get rid of expensive adjustable rate mortgage and get a fixed payment loan instead for the peace of mind that comes with it. As It the fixed-rate mortgages are not likely to go down any further, It is a good time to bet on them.

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