The government downgraded its assessment of economic conditions for the fourth straight month in its May report released Friday, saying the economy is "further weakening."

The assessment was a slight downward revision from the April report's view that the economy was "weakening," and reflects the deterioration anticipated last month, a Cabinet Office official said.

It was the first time for the government to downgrade its assessment for four consecutive months since the period between September 1997 and February 1998, when the economy was in recession.