MNI: Japan Government  Lowers Exports, Production Views

The government lowered its assessment for exports along with public investment, but largely left its main economic assessment intact on month, the Cabinet Office said on Friday.

"Exports are increasing at a slower pace," the Cabinet Office said of the first notch down since March 2021.The previous assessment was "a moderate increase continued."

It also said that public investment stayed at high level but weakened recently for the first downward revision since April 2021.

OVERALL

"The Japanese economy is picking up, although the pace has weakened in a severe situation due to the Novel Coronavirus," the Cabinet Office said.

The Cabinet Office maintained a cautious near-term view, adding that full attention should be given up to the further increase in downside risks because of the negative effects of supply chain disruptions. It added that monitoring the "situation in domestic and overseas infections and" the effects of fluctuations in the financial and capital markets was a priority.

But the government maintained its recovery view, saying that the economy is expected to pick up, supported by the effects of government recovery policies and improvement in overseas economies as vaccination rates are accelerated.