MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Consumer Conf Index Unchanged In Jan

--Japan Jan Consumer Confidence Index 39.1 Vs Dec 39.1 

--Japan Govt Keeps View: Consumer Confidence Improving

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's January consumer confidence index was unchanged from

December's level, a seasonally adjusted 39.1, the latest Consumer Confidence

Survey published by the Cabinet Office showed Wednesday.

     -- The unchanged outcome in January followed a 0.4 point rise to 39.1 in

December. The index highlighted a bright outlook for purchases of durable goods

and for the labour market, although the outlook was less rosy for income and

overall economic well-being.

     -- The Cabinet Office kept to its assessment unchanged from the previous

month, saying consumer confidence was "improving".

     -- Consumers were more optimistic on two out of the four key sentiment

sectors; labor market condition and that the next six months would be good time

to buy durable goods.

     -- The sub-index on asset prices, not included in calculating overall

consumer confidence, rose 0.7 points to 40.4 after falling 0.4 points to 39.7 in

December.

     -- The share of respondents projecting consumer price gains fell to 78.2%

in January, after rising 0.7 points to 78.8% in December. The share of

respondents forecasting lower prices rose to 4.8% in January from 4.6% in

December, for the first rise in three months.

--MNI Tokyo Bureau; tel: +81 90-2175-0040; email: hiroshi.inoue@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MAJDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$]