Japan: Full Wage Hikes Could Spur Inflation, Economic Dip

Several major Japanese companies have agreed to the full wage demands of relevant labor unions in recent weeks, including Honda Motor Co.'s 12,500 yen ($94) per month wage hike, its largest since 1990; Kawasaki Heavy Industries' 14,000 yen ($105) hike, the first time it has fully accepted union demands since 1974; and Toyota Motor Corp.'s and Nissan Motor Co.'s "unusually large" pay hikes, Asahi Shimbun reported on March 15....