Reuters exclusively reports Japan Inc sees higher profits, but not wages, in year ahead

An exclusive Reuters poll found a majority of Japanese firms expect to freeze or cut wages in the next year even as many see profits rising, illustrating how Japan Inc’s legendary thrift threatens Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s drive to revive demand. More broadly, the survey underscored the most persistent problem of the world’s No.3 economy after decades of deflation: static wages that create a damaging spiral where consumers hoard cash and the economy doesn’t grow.