TOKYO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Japan's consumer confidence in October hit its highest level in almost two and a half years, as the government fully lifted the state of emergency amid a sharp fall in COVID-19 infections and higher vaccination rate nationwide, local media reported Friday.
According to the Cabinet Office, the seasonally adjusted index of sentiment among households made up of two or more people rose 1.4 points from September to 39.2, increasing two months in a row and logging the highest point since May 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The index is an indication of consumers' economic expectations for the coming six months, and below 50 suggests pessimists outnumber optimists.
The Cabinet Office also upgraded the basic assessment of consumer sentiment from "remains in a severe situation but continues to pick up" to "continues to pick up" for the first time in four months.
As daily infections across Japan have declined steadily since September, the government on Oct. 1 lifted the state of emergency, which covered 21 out of Japan's 47 prefectures at one point and required people to stay at home while food establishments to stop serving alcohol and close early.
"This is just a survey on (consumers') sentiment, but actual consumption will likely increase if the subsided virus situation continues," a government official told reporters.
The survey was conducted between Oct. 7 and 20, covering 8,400 households, with 84.9 percent of valid responses received.
