Income conditions of households still remain severe, but regular and overtime payments as well as new job offers continue to increase in line with the recovery in corporate activities, and compensation of employees has stopped decreasing.
As for the outlook, public investment is expected to maintain the current level for the time being, but is likely to start increasing again in the future along with the implementation of the new economic stimulus package by the government. While the U.S. economy is decelerating gradually, the expansion in overseas economies is projected to continue, albeit at a slower pace.