Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

When economists try to gauge the state of the economy, there are a number of key measurements, such as gross domestic product data, that they can look at. But what about bean sprout consumption?

According to Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management, which manages Y11 trillion ($113 billion) in funds, demand for bean sprouts, or “moyashi” in Japanese, is an effective barometer of Japan’s economy. Read More »