REPEAT:MNI 5 THINGS: Japan Sep Consumer Conf Up, Income Gains

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 05:22 GMT Oct 2/01:22 EST Oct 2

--Japan Sep Consumer Confidence Index 43.4 Vs Aug 43.3 

--Japan Govt Keeps View: Consumer Confidence shows weak moves

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's consumer confidence index rose 0.1 point to 43.4 in

September on a seasonally adjusted basis, the first month-on-month rise in four

months, according to the Consumer Confidence Survey released by the Cabinet

Office Tuesday.

     The pick-up came thanks to higher income on the back of the favorable labor

conditions, the survey suggested.

     --The Cabinet Office maintained its assessment, saying, "Consumer

confidence showed weak moves."

     --Consumers were more optimistic about three of the four key aspects that

affect their sentiment; income gains, job prospects and whether it would be a

good time to buy durable goods over the next six months.

     --The index on asset prices, which is not one of the sub-indexes used to

calculate overall consumer confidence, showed the first month-on-month rise in

four months, up 0.8 points to 43.4 after falling 0.5 point the previous month.

     --The survey also showed that the public's inflation expectations for 12

months ahead rose, the third straight rise. The share of those projecting price

rises increased to 81.7% in September from 81.6% in August. The share of

respondents forecasting lower prices increased to 3.4% from 3.2%.

--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