Japanese consumers still holding back

Mar 16 (NHK) - Consumers in Japan continued to keep a tight hold on their wallets in the second half of last month.

They spent less on dining and tourism amid the country's second state of emergency to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The finding is from credit-card company JCB and research firm Nowcast and based on an analysis of customer transactions during the last two weeks of February.

Their index shows a drop of 16.4 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.

Spending on hotel accommodation was down 46.7 percent, travel 40.1 percent, dining 39.1 percent and transportation 36 percent.

Even so, the period showed an improving trend. The pace of decline was somewhat slower than in the first half of February.

Nowcast officials say a slowdown in the coronavirus-infection rate may have eased consumer concerns.

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