FX.co ★ Japan Leading Economic Index Highest Since 2022

Japan’s leading economic index, which measures the outlook for the coming months based on indicators such as job offers and consumer sentiment, rose to 112.4 in February 2026, up from 112.1 in January and slightly above market expectations of 112.3. This marked the highest reading since August 2022, highlighting a steady improvement in the economic outlook. Labor market conditions remained firm: the unemployment rate edged down to 2.6%, retreating further from January’s 1.5-year low, while employment grew by 10 thousand to 68.27 million. At the same time, consumer confidence strengthened to its highest level since April 2019, as worries over persistent cost pressures eased in the wake of Tokyo’s large-scale stimulus program aimed at supporting household spending and stabilizing economic growth.