Japan’s core machinery orders staged a strong rebound in December 2025, rising 16.8% year-over-year, according to data updated on 18 February 2026. The jump follows a steep 6.4% year-over-year decline recorded in November 2025, highlighting a rapid turnaround in corporate investment appetite.
The figures, tracked on a year-over-year basis, compare December’s machinery orders with those of December a year earlier, while the previous reading had compared November 2025 with November a year before. The sharp swing from negative to robust double-digit growth suggests a notable recovery in demand for capital goods, a key leading indicator of business investment and industrial activity in Japan.
The December surge in core machinery orders will be closely watched by investors and policymakers as a signal of underlying momentum in Japan’s corporate sector, particularly after the weakness seen in November. The strong year-over-year gain could indicate improving confidence among firms and a potential pickup in capital spending heading into 2026.
