Furthermore, as for nonmanufacturing, shown in Chart 11, investment plans of the construction as well as the wholesaling and retailing industries were at about the same levels as the past average, but those of the information communication industry were relatively weak.
Thus, although business fixed investment plans are firm on the whole, I think that those of manufacturing are being steadily influenced by the slowdown in overseas economies. Lastly, private consumption has been on a moderate increasing trend, driven by consumption of durable goods and services, as presented in Chart 12. This reflects the sustained favorable employment.