By BridgeNews
Tokyo--Jan. 18--The Japanese public believes economic conditions were still weak in December, but in better shape compared to November, due to relatively robust sales at restaurants around the end of 2000, according to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office. Results of the monthly survey, announced Thursday, show that the diffusion index (DI) monitoring current economic conditions in 11 areas of Japan stood at 39.3, up from 37.8 in November.
* * * A DI number below 50 indicates pessimism about the economy, while a number above 50 indicates optimism.