Japan Tertiary Industry Index Sheds 0.9% In December

(RTTNews) - An index measuring the activity of tertiary industries in Japan declined by a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent in December compared to the previous month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Wednesday, coming in at 95.8.

That was sharply lower than analyst forecasts for a decline of 0.2 percent on month following the revised 0.1 percent contraction in November.

Among the industries that saw declines, scientific research was down 4.4 percent on month, while miscellaneous services fell 3.1 percent, compound services shed 2.4 percent, wholesale and retail trade shed 1.3 percent, real estate eased 0.9 percent, finance was down 0.3 percent and transport and postal activities lost 0.2 percent.

Finishing higher, restaurants added 2.3 percent on month, while amusement services gained 1.2 percent, learning support was up 0.6 percent, communications climbed 0.5 percent and health care added 0.1 percent.

Electricity, gas, heat and water were flat on month.

For the fourth quarter of 2009, the index was down 0.2 percent compared to the previous three months.