Although the diffusion index for business conditions in the March Tankan registered a slight decline relative to the previous Tankan, on the whole it is still at a favorable level considering the adjustments that have been occurring in the financial market. 2.
Developments in the household sector  The positive influence of the strength in the corporate sector has been feeding through into the household sector at a moderate pace. The number of employees continues to increase steadily. A closer look reveals that not only the number of part-time workers but also that of full-time employees is rising.