Japan's monthly survey of people who observe the economy at street level
A Cabinet Office survey of taxi drivers, shop staff, restaurant managers and recruiters on whether conditions are improving; 50 is neutral.
Since 2000 the Cabinet Office has asked about 2,000 people whose work puts them in daily contact with consumers and firms how business conditions compare with three months ago and how they expect them to develop. The answers are summed into diffusion indexes centred on 50. The survey is published around the eighth of the following month, earlier than almost any other Japanese indicator, which is why it is watched.