A survey shows that nearly 60 percent of children in Japan's low-income households are bearing the brunt of recent higher prices in terms of education.
Kidsdoor, a non-profit organization whose mission is to address child poverty, conducted the survey this month among families it supports and 1,846 people responded.
The Nissan Murano, soldiers into 2021 bearing slightly higher prices, but the amount of the increase varies by trim level. The entry-level Murano, the base S with front-wheel drive, sees the highest increase at $780, while the most expensive version, the all-wheel-drive Murano Platinum, inches up by just $80.
For 2021, the Nissan Murano S starts at $33,605, including the $1,095 destination charge. Compensating for the higher tariff, the S now includes Nissan's Safety Shield 360 batch of driver-assist features, which was previously standard only on the SV and higher trims. The bundle consists of forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beams. All-wheel drive, previously a $1,600 upcharge, now will set you back $1,550 on the S and on all other Muranos.
Mazda introduced the 2021 CX-30 2.5 Turbo earlier this year and now the company has confirmed it will cost a pretty penny.
The Nissan Sentra was extensively redesigned last year, and for 2021 the model receives just minor tweaks, for which it's subject to just minor price increases.
The base Sentra S sees its price rise by $320, to $20,335 (with the $925 destination charge). Consider the extra scratch the cost of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which have been added to the standard-equipment list this year. (They previously were unavailable on the base car.)
Right now, the current standard of video game prices is set at $60 for triple-A titles, not taking into account deluxe editions or collector editions. This has been the standard for years, but with next-gen consoles, we’re starting to see some publishers move towards pricing games at around the $70 mark which is expected to become the new standard.
However, according to a report from Bloomberg, it seems that even $70 wasn’t enough for Sony, so much so that the report claimed that Sony was in discussions to possibly increase the price of games beyond the $70 mark. The report does not mention when these talks took place or if they’re still in discussion.
Infiniti's entry-level crossover is getting better with age as the company has announced a handful of updates for the 2021 QX50.
Nissan is paring down the midsize Altima lineup for the 2021 model year, eliminating some trim/engine combinations and effectively streamlining the remaining offerings, while also repositioning the sporty SR grade just above the SV (and below the SL) as it becomes the only variant available with the Altima's more potent turbocharged engine option.
The thinning of available trim combinations is by far the biggest news for the 2021 Altima. The 2.0-liter turbocharged, variable-compression engine is now exclusive to the SR trim, where previously it was also available on the loaded-up Platinum grade. All told, the adjustments eliminate three Altima variants: the aforementioned Platinum/VC-Turbo combination, the 2.5-liter Platinum with front-wheel drive and the base S model with all-wheel drive.
The Bank of Japan says the Producer Price Index sank 0.1 percent in September, excluding the effects of last year's consumption tax hike. It's the first drop in four months as business activities remained sluggish. The decline was larger year-on-year at 2.3 percent.
Weakening demand for goods including steel and iron, machinery and textiles was behind the drop.
A report by the BOJ highlights that prices in Japan are under downward pressure amid the pandemic.
The central bank estimates that Japan's output gap stood at minus 4.83 percent in the April-June quarter. A negative reading means that demand is falling short of supply.
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is finally a competitive entry in this bustling crossover segment. While the last one sold well and made a good first impression, the more you drove it, the more disappointing it became. That's no longer the case for 2021, as the Rogue gains a much improved chassis, a touch more power and extra refinement that amount to a crossover that's considerably better to drive.
Nissan also punches above its weight with interior design. It's a modern and usable tech haven, assuming it's equipped with all the available goodies. Nothing about the exterior design is revolutionary, but the new Rogue looks confident and worthy of its price tag. It successfully manages to look both premium and rugged at the same time. Available features like tri-zone climate control and the Divide N Hide cargo system aim to separate it from mainstays like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but it's likely its expansive array of standard driver assistance technologies that are bound to make the biggest difference. Not only are more standard on the Rogue than on most competitors, they are well executed systems (that goes for the sophisticated ProPilot Assist option, too). Altogether, the new Rogue doesn't climb to the top of segment, especially since it doesn't offer a more powerful engine upgrade or a hybrid option, but it's much closer than before.
If you're looking for a compact luxury SUV but are iffy about the higher price tags and running costs (quite understandably), the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is a perfect alternative. It all starts with its elegantly sporty styling and carries inside where its handsome design and plush materials are a clear step up from others at its price point. Then, when you're behind the wheel, the CX-5 impresses with engaging driving manners that we've routinely described as being indicative of a "budget Porsche." Its available turbocharged engine even has as much or more power as several similarly sized luxury crossovers.
Now, if the CX-5 can be credibly considered an alternative to luxury vehicles, it's safe to say that it also stands tall against non-luxury choices like the popular Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Certainly, its style, plush interior and driving manners count for a lot. It also gets a new infortainment system for 2021, addressing one of this Mazda's few low points. It's still smaller than those top competitors, particularly in the cargo area, so if max utility and versatility are a priority, it may not be the best choice. Fashion and function rarely go hand-in-hand, and the CX-5 is no exception.
After detailing the Type R Limited Edition, Honda has released pricing information for the 2021 Civic Hatchback. It's not making any major changes to the model, but it's slightly increasing prices across the board.
The lineup consists of four trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Sport Touring. That's down from five in 2020, because the EX-L model which was positioned one notch below the range-topping trim is not coming back for 2021. Pricing starts at $22,000 before a $955 destination charge enters the equation, meaning putting a Civic Hatchback in your driveway will cost at least $22,955. For context, the 2020 model started at $21,650 before Honda added a $930 destination charge, so it was priced at $22,580.
The key gauge for business in Japan has dropped for the fifth consecutive month, due to a decrease in business travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bank of Japan says the Services Producer Price Index fell 0.6 percent in July from the year before. That excludes the effects of last year's consumption tax hike.
The bestselling midsize pickup for the past 15 years has been the Toyota Tacoma. After receiving a spritz for the 2020 model year, the third-generation Tacoma gets some sprinkles and another cherry to keep it interesting going into 2021. Two special editions that were introduced at this year's Chicago Auto Show enter the mix for 2021. Both offer 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrains, taking the range of six main Tacoma trims out to 33 different configurations between cab, bed length, and drivetrain choices.
The 2021 Tacoma Trail Special Edition is based on the SR5 and gets black badges and dark gray 16-inch TRD Off-Road wheels on all-terrain tires, black seats with tan stitching, all-weather floor mats, a 120-volt outlet in the bed, and a lockable, insulated storage box in the bed with a drain plug. The 2021 Tacoma Nightshade Edition starts with the Limited trim to carry the dark formula into the truck line. Dark Smoke 18-inch wheels and black accents outside pair with black leather-trim seats inside.