TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s service sector sentiment index rose in July, a Cabinet Office survey showed on Tuesday, showing some improvement in business confidence although concerns persist over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey of workers such as taxi drivers, hotel workers and restaurant staff – called “economy watchers” for their proximity to consumer and retail trends – showed their confidence about current economic conditions grew 2.3 points to 41.1 from June. The index hit a record low in April.
The Cabinet Office, in its assessment, said the index is picking up but worries over the coronavirus have been growing.
(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
