Bank of Japan’s March report of recent economic and financial developments1  Bank of Japan, Communication, 10 March 2000. *  *  *  2  The Bank’s view  Japan’s economy has recently started to improve. The economic environment surrounding private demand continues to improve, as seen in the increase in corporate profits.
However, clear signs of a self-sustained recovery in private demand have not been observed yet. With regard to final demand, housing investment and public investment are decreasing moderately. Recovery in private consumption continues to be weak through lack of notable improvements in employment and income conditions. Meanwhile, business fixed investment, which had been on a downward trend, seems to have almost leveled off.