We’ve been hearing for years that America’s strength in the world’s economy is declining. But once again we see that when America catches a cold, the world develops pneumonia.

Toyota factories face days of closure

In a rare move which appears likely to be repeated in a similar form across much of the struggling Japanese automotive industry, the Nagoya-based giant said that all 12 of its Japanese manufacturing facilities would go dark for a total of 11 days between February and March.

By Toyota’s own admission, the move is designed to save permanent staff jobs amid fears that huge swathes of once booming industrial Japan are on the brink of turning very bleak indeed.