The government on Tuesday upgraded its economic assessment of eight of Japan's 11 regions, primarily because of increases in industrial production.
In a quarterly economic survey of the 11 regions, the Cabinet Office upgraded its assessment of the Tohoku, northern Kanto, southern Kanto, Tokai, Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku and Kyushu economies and slightly downgraded its assessment of Okinawa's, due to a decline in housing construction.
The Hokkaido and Shikoku economies were left unchanged.
The office gave its most favorable assessment to the Chugoku region, saying the regional economy has been showing slight improvement.
It also said signs of an incipient recovery can be seen in northern Kanto, southern Kanto, Tokai, Kinki, Kyushu and Okinawa.
No region was designated as being in a severe situation, although the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions had been placed in that category in the previous survey, in May.
The regional assessments fit in with the government's judgment of the overall economy.
Earlier this month, the government said, "While the economy continues to be in a difficult situation, movements of an incipient recovery can be seen in some areas."
The office made the regional assessments based primarily on economic data from the April-June quarter.
While industrial production is rising in most regions, personal consumption remains flat, it said.
It also said the job situation in most areas is still severe.