Biz sentiment hits record high in Jan.

February 5, 2018

Tokyo- Business sentiment in Japan continued rising to hit an all-time high in January, led by manufacturers enjoying strong exports, Teikoku Databank Ltd. said Monday.

The business sentiment diffusion index rose 0.2 point from the previous month to 51.1, up for the eighth straight month and marking the highest level since the statistics began in May 2002, the private credit research firm said.

The previous record high was 51 set in March 2014, just before the consumption tax hike from 5 pct to the current 8 percent in April that year.

In January, the DI rose for five of the 10 industrial sectors covered by the survey.

The index for the manufacturing industry rose 0.5 point to 52.6, hitting a record high for the fourth straight month, partly reflecting an increase in exports of semiconductor-related products.

The retail sector saw its index climb 0.9 point to 44.3, up for two months in a row, on the back of strong sales of winter clothing and other cold-weather items. In addition, sales of luxury products grew thanks to a rise in stock prices.

The index for the transportation and warehouse sector was down 1.8 points at 50.7, dropping for the first time in seven months, due to a surge in fuel prices.

The survey, conducted between Jan. 18 and Wednesday, received valid responses from 10,161 companies. Jiji Press