The shock was most evident in consumer markets, as many potential purchasers stayed riveted to their televisions and away from shopping malls. Both motor vehicle sales and sales at major chain stores fell off noticeably. The airline and travel industries also suffered severe cutbacks.
Turning to the outlook, as for exporting conditions, inventory adjustments in IT-related goods worldwide are showing steady progress, and this has strengthened the view that adjustments will be mostly completed by around next spring. However, as final demand of IT-related goods still remains stagnant, a distinct recovery in exports of the sector is unlikely for the time being.