Japan's benchmark interest rate held at 1% in August, unchanged from July. The rate has been at 1% since June, following an increase from 0.75% in May. It stands 0.5 percentage point above its year-ago level of 0.5%. The current rate is well below the all-time high of 9% recorded in July 1980 and far above the record low of -0.1% from February 2024, according to Bank for International Settlements.

Japan Benchmark Rate Holds at 1%

The yen fell to 158.74 per dollar in August from 162.61 in July, which was the highest level since August 2025. The August reading remains above the 147.67 recorded a year earlier. The yen is well below its all-time high of 360.00 per dollar from July 1971 and above its all-time low of 76.77 from October 2011, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Japan Yen Falls from 12-Month High

Japan's consumer confidence rose to 35.5 in August from 34.9 in July, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase. The index is at its highest since February 2026 and above the 34.9 recorded a year earlier. It remains well below the all-time high of 51.0 set in October 1989 and above the record low of 21.9 from April 2020, according to the OECD.

Japan Consumer Confidence Extends Rising Streak

EconomicsAPI

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