FX.co ★ Japan Leading Economic Index Lowest Since 2020

Japan's leading economic index, which serves as a barometer for the nation's economic outlook based on factors such as job offers and consumer sentiment, decreased to 103.4 in April 2025, down from a downwardly revised 107.6 in March. This figure fell short of market predictions of 104.1 and reached its lowest point since August 2020. The decline coincided with a decrease in annual household expenditures for April, which reversed the growth experienced in March. On a positive note, consumer sentiment showed a modest improvement, rising to 32.8 in May after hitting a more than two-year low of 31.2 in April. However, the unemployment rate remained constant at 2.5% in April, though total employment levels reached a six-month low.