1 percent in
February and increased 0.0 (1990=100). The current behavior of the leading index
suggests that the economy will continue to grow in the near term,
probably more rapidly than the recent sluggish rate, but more slowly
than the strong growth of late 2003 and early 2004. Based on revised data, this index decreased 0. Jun.0 55.

2 %
Others1.

adulthood jst

7 p 98.4 p +0. Not available p Preliminary r Revised
Indexes equal 100 in 1990
Source: The Conference Board

For more information, visit our Website: http://www.

906 adulthood

Six of the ten components that make up the leading
index increased in March.0 p -0. Five of the ten components that make up the leading
index increased in December.0 percent). The data series used to compute the two composite
indexes reported in this release are those available "as of" 5:00 P.

588 calculated

7 percent, and three of the six
components advanced (diffusion index, six-month span equals 50.
Leading index 98.0

n.3 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of
2004 following a slight decline in the third quarter, both of these
significantly below the 4.0 percent average growth rate over the
previous four quarters.1 p +0.7 25.

calculated trillion

5 percent (annual rate), only slightly
below the long-term average.1 percent average rate in the previous
two quarters. Based on revised data, this index increased 0.
With the 0.1 p 99.0

Coincident Index 100.

6% (male 9,945,638; female 13,774,392 )

Official Language:
Japanese
Capital:
Tokyo
Currency:
Yen (JPY, , )
Political System:
Parliamentary Democracy
Gross Domestic Product (PPP, 2002 est.

686 trillion

0 percent in January.M.

to Mar.1 p +0.1 percent increase in December, the leading index now stands at
99.1 (1990=100 ). Based on revised data, this index decreased 0. Real wholesale sales,
industrial production, and real retail sales declined, while real
manufacturing sales* remained unchanged in December.3 p 100.

Fast Facts
Population (July 2003):
127,214,499
Age structure: (2003 est.

588 499

Wage and salary income* increased
in March. During the six-month span
through March, the index decreased 0.3 p +0.0 55. (JST)

1 percent, and the coincident index
was unchanged in December.0 percent). Some series are estimated as noted below. Dec.3 p
Percent Change 0.

Japanese language websites must be submitted to World: Japanese.

686 588

0 - 1.5 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter
of 2004 after declining at a 1. The recent pickup in the leading index suggests that
the economy will continue to grow in the near term, at or slightly
higher than the sluggish growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2004.org

The next release of the Japan Composite Indexes is scheduled for
June 9, 2005 at 9:00 P.3
(1990=100).M.

Summary Table of Composite Indexes

2004 6-month
Oct.2 p -0.7 p 100.

499 trillion

The negative contributors to the index --
in order from the largest negative contributor to the smallest -- include real
wholesale sales, number of employed persons, real retail sales, industrial
production, and real manufacturing sales*. Mar.8 p -0.M.

DATA AVAILABILITY.

4 p 0.

This category is for English web sites emanating from and relating to Japan.

392 jpy

In addition , the strength in the leading
index has become somewhat more widespread in the last three months.

-- Real GDP increased at a 0. During the six-month span
through March, the index increased 0.4 p
Diffusion 60.

The Conference Board(R) Japan Business Cycle Indicators (SM)

2 percent, and five of ten components
advanced (diffusion index, six-month span equals 50 .2 p
Diffusion 50.

The nation's roughly 7,000 islands extend in an arc of about 3 ,000 km northeast to southwest.

expectancy 024

With this month's increase, the growth rate of the leading index has
picked up to about 1. The negative contributors to the index -- in order from
the largest negative contributor to the smallest -- include yield spread, new
orders for machinery and construction*, the index of overtime worked, and real
operating profits*.

Notes: The series in the leading index that are based on The Conference
Board estimates are real operating profits and six month growth rate of labor
productivity. Not available p Preliminary r Revised
Indexes equal 100 in 1990
Source: The Conference Board

For more information , visit our Website: http://www.M. (JST)

adulthood 444

3 percent in March, the leading index now stands at
99. The data series used to compute the two composite
indexes reported in this release are those available "as of" 5:00 P.8 p 99.

LEADING INDICATORS. The series in the coincident index that are based on The
Conference Board estimates are real manufacturing sales and wage and salary
income. Nov.

4% (NB: If calculated by western methods, could be double)
Number of Households (2000):
46,376,000
Legal Age of Adulthood:
20 years old
Legal age for Driving:
18 years for cars/motorcycles, 16 for 50cc scooters
Life Expectancy (2003)
Men: 77.

expectancy 50cc

Four of the ten components that make up the leading index
declined in March.

COINCIDENT INDICATORS .globalindicators.2 percent in October.4 percent, and two of the six components
advanced (diffusion index, six-month span equals 25.

adulthood 529

1 (1990=100).6 percent decline in March, the coincident index now stands at
100. The series in the coincident index
that are based on The Conference Board estimates are real manufacturing sales
and wage and salary income. Sep.0 16.7 50.0

n.

4% (male 9,368,132; female 8,906,024)
15-64 years: 67% (male 42,852,204; female 42,368 ,109)
65 years and over: 18.

1%

Time Zone:
GMT+9 (JST)
International Country Code:
+81
Internet top-level domain name:
jp

jst 214

NEW YORK, The Conference Board reports today that
the leading index for Japan increased 0.8 percent in
February and increased 1.

* Real GDP increased at a 0.1 percent in
November and increased 0.0 p +0.globalindicators. (ET)
In Japan -March 9, 2005 at 10:00 A.

945 762

Based on revised data, this index declined 0. Some series are estimated as noted below.0 p
Percent Change +1. The positive contributors to the index -- in
order from the largest positive contributor to the smallest -- include real
operating profits*, real money supply, the (inverted) business failures, new
orders for machinery and construction *, and stock prices. ET
February 7, 2005.
Leading index 99.0 50.0 p -0.4 p
Diffusion 25.org

The next release of the Japan Composite Indexes is scheduled for
March 8, 2005 at 8:00 P.

41 years
Marriage and Divorce Rates (2000):
Marriages: 7.

392 588

4 percent, and five of ten components
advanced (diffusion index , six-month span equals 50.

Summary Table of Composite Indexes

2005 6-month
Jan.4 percent in
November and was unchanged in October.1 p -0.

63 years; Women: 84.

588 capita

4 percent in January. Feb.1 p
Percent Change +0. Japan Leading Economic Indicators
and Related Composite Indexes for December 2004

NEW YORK, The Conference Board reports today that
the leading index for Japan increased 0. During the six-month span
through December, the index declined 0. Two of the six components that make up the
coincident index increased in December.
Holding steady in December, the coincident index now stands at 100.

Japan

Japan is an island nation situated off the east coast of the Asian continent.

)
3 .

jpy 499

6 percent in The leading index increased in March for the third consecutive month.0 percent).
With the 0.7 p
Diffusion 83. Five of the ten
components that make up the leading index declined in December.0 p 99.

)

0-14 years: 14.

5%
Geothermal0.

392 trillion

The Conference Board (R) Japan Business Cycle Indicators(SM) Japan Leading Economic Indicators and Related Composite Indexes for March 2005

ET May
9, 2005.3 0.M. (ET)
In Japan -June 10, 2005 at 10:00 A.0 percent growth in the first half of the year. The positive contributors to the index
- - in order from the larger positive contributor to the smaller -- include
number of employed persons and wage and salary income*.

calculated 499

0 50.

COINCIDENT INDICATORS. During the six-month span through
December, the index decreased 0. to Dec.

Total land area, if the Northern Territories are included, is 377,864 km2.

2/100,000 persons
Number of Non-Japanese Residents (2000)
1,686,444
Religion:

Shintoism49%
Buddhism45%
Christianity1%
Other religions5%

Total Primary Energy Supply (FY1995; 588 million kl crude oil equivalent)

Petroleum55.

864 588

With the increase of 0. Five of the six components that make up the
coincident index decreased in March .

Notes: The series in the leading index that are based on The Conference
Board estimates are real operating profits, dwelling units started, and six
month growth rate of labor productivity .0

Coincident Index 101.4 p 100. The negative
contributors to the index -- in order from the largest negative contributor to
the smallest -- include dwelling units started, the Tankan business conditions
survey, the index of overtime worked, yield spread, and the six month growth
rate of labor productivity.0 16.

55 Trillion US Dollars; per capita $28,000
Official Unemployment Rate (2000)
5.

8%
Coal16.

214 50cc

3 percent, while the coincident index
decreased 0.0 percent).a .1 p
Percent Change + 0.M.

5%
Nuclear12%
Natural Gas 10.

jpy 377

The positive contributors to the index -- in order
from the largest positive contributor to the smallest -- include the six month
growth rate of labor productivity, the (inverted) business failures, stock
prices, real money supply, dwelling units started, and the Tankan business
conditions survey.

DATA AVAILABILITY.0 60.6 p -0.

* The leading index increased slightly in December , but November's no
change was revised down to a small decline as actual data for business
failures became available. December's increase keeps the leading index
on a flat to slightly rising trend since the middle of 2004, down from a
5. The growth rate of
the leading index in the second half of 2004 is only slightly below its
long-term trend growth rate.

8%
Hydro3.

686 jpy

LEADING INDICATORS.6 p 100.0 45.7 41.a.

2 %Others1.