MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Sentiment Sees First Rise in 4 Months

Japan's sentiment index saw a first rise in four months in February boosted by a recovery in 4 main sub-sectors, including retail sales and services, prompting the Cabinet Office to upgrade its overall economic assessment, although still warning that an adverse turn from the virus could again impact negatively.

The latest Economy Watchers sentiment index, published Monday, saw the current economic climate up seasonally adjusted 10.1 points to 41.3 in February from last month's 31.2.

The survey indicates whether respondents with jobs most sensitive to economic conditions, including taxi and truck drivers, department-store sales staff and restaurant and shop owners, think economic conditions have improved or worsened over the last three months.

It was conducted by the Cabinet Office between Feb. 25 and Feb. 28 in the middle of the ongoing emergency and targeted roughly 2,000 people, including store managers and taxi drivers.

The outlook index for two to three months ahead rose 11.4 points to 51.3 from 39.9 for the fourth straight month.