TOKYO, June 11: Japanese consumer confidence improved in May, a Cabinet Office survey showed on Monday, suggesting post-quake rebuilding and government subsidies for purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles were helping sentiment.
The survey’s sentiment index for general households, which includes views on incomes and jobs, was 40.7 in May. That marked the least pessimistic level since February 2011, and was up from 40.0 in April.
A reading below 50 suggests consumer pessimism.
The Cabinet Office kept its assessment of consumer confidence unchanged, saying it was on a recovery path.
Following is a comparison with previous months:
MAY APRIL MARCH FEB
General households 40.7 40.0 40.3 39.9
The survey began in 1982. ‘General households’ are those with two or more people.
(agencies)
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