Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Apple Store Revenue Growth

HANGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 6, 2024 - Customers shop for Apple products at an Apple store by the West Lake in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, June 6, 2024. Market research agency Sensor Tower released the latest report, in the first quarter of 2024, the global mobile application market consumer spending reached 35.8 billion US dollars, an increase of 9.5%. Apple's App Store is the top grossing app. Its revenue reached $24.6 billion, up 11.5% from a year earlier.

E

Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March

STORY: Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March SHOOTING TIME: April 30 & May 4, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo 2. various of banks in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's economy shrank by an annualized 2.0 percent in the January-March period from the prior quarter, marking the first contraction in two quarters amid sluggish consumer spending, the latest GDP figures showed Thursday. Real gross domestic product (GDP) in this year's first quarter, adjusted for inflation, fell 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, according to preliminary data released by the Cabinet Office. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP, dropped 0.7 percent. It was the fourth straight quarter of decline, the longest streak since 2009, underscoring sluggish domestic demand. Capital spending fell 0.8 percent, down for the first time in two quarters, as Japanese firms curbed investment in mach

E

U.S. GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6 pct in Q1

STORY: U.S. GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6 pct in Q1 SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024 DATELINE: April 26, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:06 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of exterior of U.S. Department of Commerce (April 25, 2024) STORYLINE: The U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate slowed down to an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported on Thursday. The latest data marks a sharp slowdown from the fourth quarter in 2023, when GDP grew by 3.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Compared to the fourth quarter, the deceleration of real GDP in the first quarter primarily reflected decelerations in consumer spending, exports, and state and local government spending and a downturn in federal government spending. These movements were partly offset by an acceleration in residential fixed investment. The newly released GDP estimate for the first quarter, in what was called an "advance" e

E

U.S. Q3 GDP growth revised down to annual rate of 4.9 pct

STORY: U.S. Q3 GDP growth revised down to annual rate of 4.9 pct SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 21, 2023 DATELINE: Dec. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:51 LOCATION: Washington D.C. CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of U.S. Department of Commerce 2. various of San Francisco STORYLINE: The U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of 2023 was revised down to an annual rate of 4.9 percent in its third and final estimate, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. In the "advance" estimate, U.S. GDP in the third quarter grew by an annual rate of 4.9 percent, and the figure was revised up to 5.2 percent in the second estimate. The update primarily reflected a downward revision to consumer spending. Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, were revised down. The increase in real GDP reflected increases in consumer spending, private inventory investment, exports, state and local government spending, federal government spending, residential fixed investment, and nonresidential fi

E

Int'l analysts upbeat about China's economic prospect

STORY: Int'l analysts upbeat about China's economic prospect SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: Dec. 7, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:28 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of China 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): LOUNCENY TRAORE, Professor at Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Guinea 3. various of China 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ALESSANDRO ZADRO, Head of Research at Italy-China Council Foundation 5. various of China 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): FARUK BORIC, President of Association of Friendship between China and BiH 7. various of China STORYLINE: China's economic recovery continued to gather steam against all odds this year, injecting much-needed certainty and vitality into the global economy. The country's economy expanded 5.2 percent year on year in the first three quarters of the year, the best performance among the world's major economies. Consumer spending is playing an increasingly important role in driving growth, contributing over 83 percent to economic growth in the first three qua

E

Malaysia to see stable consumer growth across H2 and 2024: research house

STORY: Malaysia to see stable consumer growth across H2 and 2024: research house DATELINE: July 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Malaysia's national flag and Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers 2. various of crowds at an exhibition hall 3. various of crowds doing their grocery shopping at a supermarket 4. various of customers paying at the counter STORYLINE: BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, said Wednesday that it holds a positive outlook for consumer spending in Malaysia over the rest of 2023, as the economic recovery feeds into strong real consumer spending growth over the full year. The research house said in a note that it expects the Southeast Asian country's household spending to grow 5 percent in 2023. It opined that easing inflation will feed into the consumer spending outlook over the second half of this year. It noted that real household spending in 2023 will improve to 866.6 billion ringgit (186.29 billion U.S. dollars), beyond pre-pandemic levels

E

World Bank expects Japan's consumption recovery possible in Sept.

WASHINGTON, United States - World Bank President Jim Yong Kim speaks at a news conference at the bank's headquarters in Washington on June 27, 2014. Kim said he expects Japan's consumer spending to start recovering around September from a temporary drop linked to the sales tax hike.

E

Gov't launches 'eco-point' system to spur sluggish economy

TOKYO, Japan - A consumer-electronics retailer in Tokyo posts a notice on the ''eco-point'' program on May 15, as the government kicked off its latest economic stimulus program to spur spending in the recession-hit economy.

E

(1)Stores start campaigns for year-end gift season

TOKYO, Japan - Shop assistants invite shoppers to taste samples at a department store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, as department stores nationwide started their campaigns for the annual ''oseibo'' year-end gift-giving season. on Nov. 1. Department store sales in Japan have marked losses year on year for 18 straight months, due to slow consumer spending caused by the sluggish economy.

E

Fukusuke seeks court protection with 42 bil. yen in debts

OSAKA, Japan - Junji Fukushima (R), president of time-honored sock maker Fukusuke Corp., apologizes at a news conference in Osaka on June 21 as the company filed for court protection from its creditors the same day with debts of 42.6 billion yen. The company blamed a decline in sales of socks and underwear on sluggish consumer spending.

E

3% wage hike could get Japan out of crisis: German expert

FRANKFURT, Germany - Heiner Flassbeck (in this photo), former German vice finance minister who currently serves as senior economist at the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, proposes March 27 that Japan implement an across-the-board wage hike of around 3% in nominal terms to stimulate consumer spending and help it overcome deflation and other economic problems.

E

Hula dancers draw customers at department store

Amid weak consumer spending, a Tokyo department store employs a team of hula dancers to attract customers and buoy spending at its ''chugen'' summer-gift section on June 27.

E

Kenya gears for Black Friday sales amid squeeze of living cost

STORY: Kenya gears for Black Friday sales amid squeeze of living cost DATELINE: Nov. 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:04:32 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Nairobi's skyline 2. various of street shots 3. various of the Black Friday launch of an e-commerce platform 4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): JUAN SECO, Jumia Kenya CEO 5. various of e-commerce traders preparing for the Black Friday 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KELVIN KAMAU, Businessman 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): TONY CHEGE, Student 8. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): LIZ NJOKI, Civil servant 9. various of traders in Nairobi STORYLINE: Kenyan e-commerce traders and shoppers are gearing up for a Black Friday shopping craze amid a slump in sales driven by the rising cost of living and inflation. The slow sales and inflationary pressure set in with rising commodity prices. But now e-commerce retailers are registering a full-blown scramble for discounted products amid strong shifts in consumer spending. Jumia Kenya CEO Juan Seco admits that this year's B

E

UK retail sales fall, consumer confidence nears record low

STORY: UK retail sales fall, consumer confidence nears record low DATELINE: Oct. 25, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:01 LOCATION: London CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): ZHAO XIUZHI, Xinhua correspondent 2. various of UK STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): ZHAO XIUZHI, Xinhua correspondent "Retail sales have been falling, and consumer confidence has hit record low levels in the United Kingdom (UK), due to the country's persistently high inflation rate. Data showed retail sales continued to fall in September after a weak August, and consumers are now buying less than before the pandemic. The volume of retail sales fell in all the main sectors by 1.4 percent in September. Continued price pressures have made British consumers to be more conscious about spending. And also, the market research company GfK has said, its consumer confidence index for the UK in October stood at minus 47. The biggest danger by far is inflation. Pushed up by rising food prices, UK inflation hit 10.1 percent in September, returnin

E

GLOBALink | Holiday spending, cross-border trade reflect vibrant digital economy

The National Day holiday in China has borne witness to the digital economy gaining momentum in the country. During the seven-day Golden Week holiday, both online and offline shopping saw enormous growth in the country, thanks to heightened consumer enthusiasm and the implementation of pro-consumption policies. Produced by Xinhua Global Service

E

Holiday spending, cross-border trade reflect vibrant digital economy

STORY: Holiday spending, cross-border trade reflect vibrant digital economy DATELINE: Oct. 7, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: BEIJING CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of Chinese people shoppingvarious of online live streaming selling productsvarious of a batch of cross-border e-commerce goods from south China's Shenzhen completed customs declaration at the Horgos comprehensive bonded zoneSOUNDBITE(Chinese): REN YALI, Deputy general manager of a local e-commerce trade company STORYLINE: The National Day holiday in China has borne witness to the digital economy gaining momentum in the country. During the seven-day Golden Week holiday, both online and offline shopping saw enormous growth in the country, thanks to heightened consumer enthusiasm and the implementation of pro-consumption policies. China has been promoting deep integration between the digital economy and the real economy. As a result, cashless transactions have become ubiquitous in daily life. Online shopping has become a bright spot in Chin

E

Holiday spending reflects upturn in China's consumer market

STORY: Holiday spending reflects upturn in China's consumer market DATELINE: Oct. 6, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:41 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of scenic spots 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU BINGQIAN, Visitor 3. various of an airport 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LIANG GUIFANG, Manager of local restaurant 5. various of restaurants 6. various of home appliances STORYLINE: During the National Day holiday in China, both online and offline shopping have gained momentum, thanks to heightened consumer enthusiasm and the implementation of pro-consumption policies. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, during the seven-day holiday, various pro-consumption activities have been launched nationwide. They include handing out consumption vouchers, enriching traveling activities and organizing consumption festivals to boost culture and tourism consumption. Travel fervor runs high during the holiday. Many people choose to take a few days off and relax. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): LIU BINGQIAN, Visitor "

E

New Zealand hikes cash rate by 0.5 percent

STORY: New Zealand hikes cash rate by 0.5 percent DATELINE: Oct. 5, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:56 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of New Zealand 2. various of people buying in the supermarket 3. various of the petrol station STORYLINE: The Monetary Policy Committee of New Zealand's central bank agreed on Wednesday to increase the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points to 3.5 percent. The current OCR is at its highest point in seven years. The committee agreed that it remains appropriate to continue to tighten monetary conditions at pace to maintain price stability and contribute to maximum sustainable employment. "Core consumer price inflation is too high and labor resources are scarce," said in a committee statement. Global consumer price pressures remain heightened. The global demand for goods and services is exceeding supply capacity, putting upward pressure on prices, it said. In New Zealand, the level of domestic spending has remained resilient to date, in the face of slo

E

ADB cuts India's GDP growth forecast to 7 pct

STORY: ADB cuts India's GDP growth forecast to 7 pct DATELINE: Sept. 22, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:30 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the India gate 2. various of the local markets 3. various of fuel station 4. various of traffic STORYLINE: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday cut down India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection to 7 percent for the remaining part of the current fiscal year (April 2022-March 2023), from 7.5 percent estimated in April. Terming it as a "modest downward revision," the ADB cited "higher-than-anticipated inflation and monetary tightening" as the reasons for the cut in its GDP projection for India. The ADB also raised its inflation forecast for India to 6.7 percent. It said that private consumption will be affected by higher inflation eroding consumer purchasing power even though consumer confidence continues to improve. "Sticky core inflation will adversely impact spending over the next two years if wages fail to adjust,

E

High prices in Spain set to continue into next year, says economist

STORY: High prices in Spain set to continue into next year, says economist DATELINE: July 7, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: various of shops and consumers in SpainSOUNDBITE 1 (Catalan): MONTSERRAT GUILLEN, Professor of Economics at Barcelona UniversitySOUNDBITE 2 (Catalan): MONTSERRAT GUILLEN, Professor of Economics at Barcelona Universityvarious of a petrol stationSOUNDBITE 1 (Catalan): MONTSERRAT GUILLEN, Professor of Economics at Barcelona University STORYLINE: An economist has said high prices in Spain are set to continue into next year but measures will work. Prices in Spain went up again in June by a double-digit increase, as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed to 10.2 percent, according to the National Institute of Statistics, the highest number for 37 years. With prices going up all over Europe, the European Central Bank announced in June that it will try to dampen consumer spending by raising interest rates by 0.25 percent in July, the bank's first rate rai

E

Gov't launches 'eco-point' system to spur sluggish economy

TOKYO, Japan - A consumer-electronics retailer in Tokyo posts a notice on the ''eco-point'' program on May 15, as the government kicked off its latest economic stimulus program to spur spending in the recession-hit economy. (Kyodo)

E

Fukusuke seeks court protection with 42 bil. yen in debts

OSAKA, Japan - Junji Fukushima (R), president of time-honored sock maker Fukusuke Corp., apologizes at a news conference in Osaka on June 21 as the company filed for court protection from its creditors the same day with debts of 42.6 billion yen. The company blamed a decline in sales of socks and underwear on sluggish consumer spending. (Kyodo)

E

Chocolate-flavored fried noodles for Valentine's Day

Photo shows Myojo Foods Co.'s new chocolate-flavored Ippeichan cup fried noodles. The product will be launched on Jan. 18, 2016, as the company looks to profit from high consumer spending in Japan for Valentine's Day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Year-end shopping season starts in U.S.

Photo taken Nov. 26, 2015, shows a sales floor at a toy store in central New York. The year-end shopping season has started in the United States amid an improvement in consumer spending. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Year-end shopping season starts in U.S.

Photo taken Nov. 26, 2015, shows a sales floor at a department store in central New York. The year-end shopping season has started in the United States amid an improvement in consumer spending. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

BOJ chief confident about inflation goal despite unexpected events

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda gives a speech in Tokyo on May 15, 2015. He expressed confidence the bank's 2 percent inflation goal will be achieved despite some "unexpected events" including a plunge in crude oil prices and weaker-than-expected consumer spending. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

Gov't retains economic view in Feb. amid sluggish consumption

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) attends a meeting of Cabinet ministers in charge of the government's monthly economic report at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 19, 2015. The report maintained its basic assessment of Japan's economy for the fourth straight month in February, with consumer spending remaining sluggish in the aftermath of last year's consumption tax hike. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

E

(1)Stores start campaigns for year-end gift season

TOKYO, Japan - Shop assistants invite shoppers to taste samples at a department store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, as department stores nationwide started their campaigns for the annual ''oseibo'' year-end gift-giving season. on Nov. 1. Department store sales in Japan have marked losses year on year for 18 straight months, due to slow consumer spending caused by the sluggish economy. (Kyodo)

E

3% wage hike could get Japan out of crisis: German expert

FRANKFURT, Germany - Heiner Flassbeck (in this photo), former German vice finance minister who currently serves as senior economist at the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, proposes March 27 that Japan implement an across-the-board wage hike of around 3% in nominal terms to stimulate consumer spending and help it overcome deflation and other economic problems.

E

3% wage hike could get Japan out of crisis: German expert

FRANKFURT, Germany - Heiner Flassbeck (in this photo), former German vice finance minister who currently serves as senior economist at the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, proposes March 27 that Japan implement an across-the-board wage hike of around 3% in nominal terms to stimulate consumer spending and help it overcome deflation and other economic problems.

E

Hula dancers draw customers at department store

Amid weak consumer spending, a Tokyo department store employs a team of hula dancers to attract customers and buoy spending at its ''chugen'' summer-gift section on June 27.

E

Hula dancers draw customers at department store

Amid weak consumer spending, a Tokyo department store employs a team of hula dancers to attract customers and buoy spending at its ''chugen'' summer-gift section on June 27.