MNI DATA BRIEF: Japan April Confidence Sees 1st Drop in 3 Mos

Japan's consumer confidence index posted the first m/m drop in three months in April as pessimism rose in all major components, data released Friday showed. However, the Cabinet Office left its overall assessment unchanged from March, noting an ongoing recovery although the situation remained severe.

Consumers were less optimistic in all four key components: overall economic well-being, income conditions, the labour market situation and the willingness to buy durable goods. Confidence was adversely affected by anti-Coronavirus measures and increasing infections.

The headline index fell to 34.7 in April from 36.1 in March, the latest Consumer Confidence Survey data showed. The sub-index on asset prices, not included in calculating overall consumer confidence, fell 0.5 point to 39.8.