Japanese Economy May Catch The Bug, Literally - The Economic Times
Thank Buddha < !sneeze> it will be raining < !drip> for the rest of this week.
I’m sleeping away here at my desk in between the sneezes. This year because of global warming, Japan’s cedar pollen is SEVENTEEN times the average year in Kanto (and 99 times in Kyusho) according to the NHK News this morning. Normally pollen doesn’t bother me but I swear than I can see the pollen dust gather on my black keyboard as I’m < !sneeze> typing now. Even the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute estimated that wild high pollen levels from cedar and cypress will kill the GDP even with a big jump in the sales of creepy face masks, < !sneeze> DEVO goggles, useless antihistamines and other quack remedies.
Japanese economy may catch the bug, literally
The economy has long seemed allergic to growth. For more than a decade, every brief rebound has been followed by a negative reaction and a rash of pessimism.
Now, with growth slowing again after a three-year spurt, allergies may weaken the economy once more — this time, literally.
This week, the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute estimated that exceptionally high pollen levels from cedar and cypress trees will knock 0.6% off this quarter’s GDP.
The think-tank estimates that reductions in spending on travel and other forms of leisure will more than offset increased sales of face masks, air cleaners, antihistamines and other remedies…..
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February 10th, 2005 at 10:14 am
Something to sneeze at
The amount of pollen in the air around Tokyo is expected to be ten to 15 times higher than last year, and perhaps even the highest on record. Horrible news for hay fever victims, but a potential bit of lucre for retailers, drug makers and others, who are covering shelves with a range of sniffle-fighting new products. Big Japanese retailers such as Takashimaya and Odakyu set up displays selling masks, eye drops and allergy medicines weeks earlier than usual. Kirin and Suntory, both beverage makers, have introduced teas, yogurt drinks and other concoctions claiming to alleviate allergies.
The surge in pollen is due to last summer’s unusually warm weather. Although sales of allergy treatments should rise, the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute predicts the overall effect on the economy to be negative, since those with the sniffles spend less time eating out and having fun.
Source:The_Economist-citiesguide-tokyo-admin@news.economist.com