Japan Data On Tap For Friday

(RTTNews) - Japan is scheduled to release a raft of data on Friday, setting the pace for an otherwise light day in Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are February numbers for inflation, household spending, unemployment and retail sales.

Inflation is expected to rise 2.3 percent on year, easing from 2.4 percent in January. Core consumer prices are called at 2.1 percent, down from 2.2 percent. The jobless rate is expected to tick down to 3.5 percent from 3.6 percent.

Household spending is expected to fall 3.2 percent on year after losing 5.1 percent in January. Retail sales are tipped to add 0.9 percent on month but fall 1.5 percent on year after shedding 1.9 percent on month and 2.0 percent on year in the previous month.

China will see February figures for industrial profits; in January, profits were down 8.0 percent on year.