MNI BRIEF: Japan Sept Confidence Posts 1st Rise In Two Months

Japan's consumer confidence index posted the first rise in two months in September as all components improved from the previous month, but the Cabinet Office left its assessment unchanged, data released on Friday showed.

The index rose to 37.8 in September from 36.7 in August, the latest Consumer Confidence Survey data showed.

An official at the Cabinet Office told reporters that the September index rose but hasn't recovered to the pre-pandemic level (38.4 in April 2020). He added that the index is sensitive to the number of infections with a drop in the rate behind the rise in the September index.

The latest survey was conducted from Sept. 7 to 21.

Consumers were more optimistic in all four components: overall economic well-being, income conditions, the labour market situation and the willingness to buy durable goods. The share of respondents projecting consumer price gains rose to 82.5% in September after falling to 78.5 in August. The share of respondents forecasting lower prices fell to 3.9% in September from August's 5.0%.