Japan economic data: Retail sales miss, industrial production beats, and unemployment holds steady

Japan's economic outlook is mixed as of December 2025. Retail sales fell 0.9% year-on-year, marking the first drop since August, while industrial production decreased by 0.1% month-over-month, though annual growth was 2.6%. The unemployment rate held steady at 2.6%, with a rise in unemployed individuals. Core consumer prices in Tokyo rose 2% year-on-year in January 2026, below expectations. The Nikkei 225 Index increased by 0.3%, and the yen approached 154 per dollar, indicating potential intervention discussions.