The investment in new capital by Japanese corporations. Capital spending serves as an important indicator of growth, and plays large part in GDP. As capital spending increases it also suggests optimism in the economy. B usinesses and consumers o verall are apt to purchase expensive capital only when they foresee an expansion that would rationalize the expenditure. This is therefore one of the earliest signals of significant corporate escalation that can lead to real growth in the Japanese economy.

The headline figure is the percentage change from the previous year.

Relevance : Rarely affects markets
Release schedule : 23:50 (GMT); quarterly, with a two month lag.
Revisions schedule : Revised annually
Source of report : Ministry of Finance ( Japan )
Web Address : http://www.mof.go.jp/english/
Address of release : http://www.mof.go.jp/english/e1c002.htm (Under "Summary Materials" open the most recent report and look under "Investment in Plant and Equipment." 'Total' includes two numbers, the top Capital Spending including Software, the bottom simply Capital Spending )
AKA : Investment in Plant and Equipment