円の実力、５０年ぶり低水準　購買力低下で景気悪影響も

　円の通貨としての実力が約５０年ぶりの水準に低下した。国際決済銀行（ＢＩＳ）が１７日発表した今年１月時点の円の「実質実効為替レート」（２０１０年＝１００）は６７．５５となり、１９７２年６月（６７．４９）以来の円安水準となった。円の対外的な購買力の低下を示しており、輸入コストの上昇を通じ景気に悪影響を及ぼす懸念がある。
　実質実効為替レートは、「ドルと円」など特定の２通貨間の為替レートとは異なり、総合的な通貨の実力をみる指標。ＢＩＳは約６０カ国・地域の為替レートや貿易量、物価変動などを考慮して算出した。
　ＢＩＳによると、円の実質実効為替レートは９５年４月の１５０．８５が最高。その後は、海外に比べ物価や賃金が上がらない中、円安を志向する政府・日銀の政策を背景に低下が続き、ピーク時の半分以下にまで落ち込んだ。（2022/02/17-21:54）

The yen's real strength representing the Japanese economy's external purchasing power has tumbled to its lowest level in 50 years, data from the Bank for International Settlements have shown.
   The yen's real effective exchange rate as of January stood at 67.55 against 100 for the base year of 2010, the lowest since 67.49 in June 1972, according to the data, released Thursday.
   The weakening of the yen's external power would lead to higher import costs for Japan, possibly working negatively for the economy of the country, which depends on imports for a large part of natural resources it needs.
   The real effective exchange rate, the weighted average of a basket of currencies, measures the comprehensive strength of a currency, unlike exchange rates between two specific currencies. The Basel, Switzerland-based BIS calculated the rate by taking into account exchange rates, trade volume and price developments in about 60 countries and regions.
   The yen's real effective exchange rate peaked in April 1995, at 150.85, according to the BIS. Since then, the rate has fallen by more than 50 pct, reflecting the perceived tendency of the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan to favor a weaker yen and due to prices and wages remaining relatively low in Japan than in other countries and regions.