The economy

Economic news runs on a small set of two-kanji words, and many of them come in opposites: 輸出(ゆしゅつ) and 輸入(ゆにゅう), 需要(じゅよう) and 供給(きょうきゅう), 好景気(こうけいき) and 不景気(ふけいき). Two of them catch English speakers out. 円高(えんだか), literally a “high yen”, means the yen is strong, so imports and holidays abroad get cheaper, and 円安(えんやす) means the opposite. And there are three words for price: 値段(ねだん) is the everyday one, 価格(かかく) the formal one on labels and in reports, and 物価(ぶっか) the level of prices in general.