Cabinet Office: Conditions and Restaurant Sector

cabinet office: The diffusion index is based on whether respondents believe economic conditions improved or worsened over the previous three months, according to The Japan Times. A reading above 50 indicates a majority reported improvement, while a reading below 50 shows a majority believe economic conditions deteriorated over the period. The seasonally adjusted index of sentiment among workers sensitive to economic conditions, such as taxi drivers and restaurant employees, declined 1.2 points to 47.4. Despite the index's third consecutive fall, the Cabinet Office maintained its assessment, saying that the economy is picking up but there are continued signs of it taking a spell. There were comments about labor shortages in the restaurant sector . . . and rising purchase prices, which apparently worsened sentiment, an official with the Cabinet Office said. Respondents in the retailing, restaurant and housing industries felt their business environment had worsened, while rising material costs hurt sentiment in the corporate sector. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.