Japan’s leading economic index - which gauges the outlook for the coming months based on indicators such as job offers and consumer sentiment - rose to 108.0 in September 2025 from August’s five-month low of 107.0, preliminary estimates showed. The latest reading was the highest since January and slightly above market forecasts of 107.9, supported by stronger household spending, which increased 1.8%, marking the fifth consecutive month of gains, though at a softer pace than in the previous month. This indicated a continued recovery in consumer activity. Meanwhile, consumer confidence in October climbed to its highest level in ten months. On the other hand, the unemployment rate remained at 2.6% in September - the highest since July 2024 - while employment rose to a four-month high.