BoJ maintains assessment for seven of Japan's nine regions

In its quarterly regional economic report published on Thursday, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) maintains the assessment for seven of Japan's nine regions.

Additional takeaways

BoJ raises assessment for two of Japan's nine regions in quarterly report.

BoJ cuts assessment for 0 of Japan's nine regions in quarterly report.

Some regions saw firms already considering specific pace of wage hikes.

Many regions saw a wide range of firms seeing need to continue raising wages due to structural labor shortages.

Many regions saw firms continuing to pass on rising import costs to prices, albeit at moderate pace.

Many regions saw broadening price hikes aimed at generating proceeds to pay higher wages.

Some regions reported firms refraining from price hikes, or cutting prices for some goods.