economic conditions 結果共7筆

Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long predicts Taiwan’s inflation rate to drop to around 2% in 2024 due to expected international oil price decreases and modest service price increases. The Central Bank’s upcoming board meeting is anticipated to maintain the re-discount rate at 1.875%. Yang cites declining inflation rates and negative output gaps as key factors influencing the decision. Geopolitical conflicts and weather conditions pose uncertainties to Taiwan’s inflation trends.

Premier Chen Chien-jen addresses potential cash payments to the public in response to economic conditions for 2025 and 2026 during a Legislative Yuan hearing. Discussions highlight the government’s focus on National Health Insurance, labor insurance, and subsidies for Taiwan Power Company, with implications for Taiwan’s social policy and fiscal decisions in the future.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Chairman Young Liu has stated that the AI server industry is facing a shortage of AI chips, which is expected to persist throughout 2024. Liu emphasized that the problem can only be resolved by increasing production capacity in new factories. He also highlighted that geopolitical and economic conditions may affect the demand for consumer electronic products this year. Despite holding a significant position in the global AI server industry, Hon Hai is facing a shortfall in the supply of AI chips from major manufacturers like NVIDIA. While some second and third-tier factories claim their AI server performance will be good in 2024, Liu expressed skepticism and confusion about this situation.

Taipei mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je criticizes the lack of long-term vision and planning in economic policy by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT). Despite a 120% increase in Taiwan’s GDP since 2000, real wages have only increased by 4% and the country ranks sixth in total working hours globally. Ko believes that low wages and poor living conditions are not the fault of Taiwanese people but rather the result of the government’s lack of global strategic planning. He questions what keyword might define 2024 if the DPP and KMT continue to be in power, and asserts that a change in leadership is needed. Ko suggests that he should be elected president in 2024 to address these ongoing issues, emphasizing the absence of comprehensive strategic planning as the underlying reason behind the problems.

Taiwan’s central bank has announced that it will maintain its interest rate for the third consecutive time in its quarterly board meeting. The decision was influenced by price changes and the need to balance stabilizing consumer prices with sustaining economic growth. Despite rising consumer prices due to natural disasters, the central bank remains optimistic and expects the inflation rate to drop below 2% next year. Forecasts for Taiwan’s GDP growth rate in 2023 are more positive, projected to reach 3.12%. This is supported by increasing private consumption, particularly in tourism and dining, as well as the central bank’s expectation of a global export increase to stimulate local investment and drive economic recovery. In contrast to the Federal Reserve in the U.S., Taiwan’s central bank stated that its monetary policy approach would be adjusted gradually based on the country’s economic conditions. Despite high housing prices, the central bank has decided against imposing stricter measures or withdrawing from market intervention to avoid further impact on the property market.

New data from Statistics Korea reveals a decline in young married couples in South Korea, with approximately 1.032 million couples within the first five years of marriage as of November 1, 2022. Since 2015, there has been an annual average decrease of 50,000 to 80,000 newlywed couples, projected to fall below 1 million by the end of this year. Around 79% of these newlyweds are marrying for the first time, while over 20% are embarking on a second marriage. Notably, 46.4% of first-time married couples have chosen not to start a family yet, marking the highest recorded rate of childless couples. Economic and housing conditions play a role in these trends, as the average annual income of newlyweds has increased by 6.1% from the previous year, and dual-income households have claimed a larger share, reaching 57.2%. However, despite earning 1.7 times more than single-earner families, dual-income couples have a lower rate of having children. The unique Korean rental system, Jeonse, involving significant security deposit payments, and rising rental costs may further impact young couples’ decision to start a family, adding complexity to South Korean family dynamics.

The Ministry of Labor in Taiwan has announced that 364 companies have implemented reduced work shifts, affecting a total of 9,809 employees. Among these companies, four manufacturing firms have halted or prematurely ended these initiatives due to urgent orders. The manufacturing industry has been the most impacted, with 203 businesses and 8,791 individuals affected by reduced work hours. The Department of Labor Standards and Equal Employment Director Huang Wei-chen noted that large-scale businesses are typically the first to cease these initiatives when economic conditions improve. Huang also predicted that the number of companies implementing unpaid leave may decrease by the end of the year or early next year. This situation highlights the delicate balance between ensuring employee welfare and meeting business requirements, especially in the face of current economic uncertainties. The Ministry of Labor continues to oversee work policies to protect workers while promoting strong industrial performance.