Japan's government cut its overall economic assessment for the first time in five months as private consumption is struggling to recover from the slump caused by April's sales tax hike, clouding the outlook for a sustained recovery.
The government on Friday cut its view on private consumption, which accounts for about 60% of the economy, saying that consumer spending is seen pausing although a pick-up trend remains intact.
The assessment followed a run of weak indicators, including falling household spending, which raised doubt about the strength of an expected bounce in the current quarter - a crucial factor for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision in December on whether to proceed with a second tax rise next year.
On Thursday, Japan reported exports declined in August while a survey showed confidence among manufacturers fell the most in nearly two years this month.
That compared with the prior month's assessment that the economy was on a moderate recovery and that a decline in demand - rooted in the sales-tax hike - was easing.
It was the first downgrade since April in the government's economic assessment, which had been raised in July.
