TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The April index of activity in the tertiary industry sector fell 3.6 pct month-on-month, compared with a revised rise of 1.0 pct in March, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. The March figure was previously estimated as a rise of 0.8 pct.
The ministry provided the following data for April, compared with March:
Tertiary index - down 3.6 pct vs rise 1.0 pct
- up 0.9 pct yr-on-yr vs rise revised 2.5 pct
All-industries - down 2.5 pct vs rise revised 0.6 pct
- down 0.3 pct yr-on-yr vs rise revised 0.9 pct
The tertiary industry sector comprises transport, telecoms, finance/insurance, wholesale/retail, utility, real estate and service sectors, while the all-industry index also includes construction, agricultural and fisheries.
Earlier, private sector economists forecast the April tertiary index would fall 1.3 pct month-on-month and rise 2.4 pct year-on-year. They forecast the all-industries index would fall 1.5 pct month-on-month and rise 0.5 pct year-on-year.