Recent signs of economic recovery have begun to fade in some areas of Japan as uncertainty mounts over the export-driven pickup, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Thursday in a quarterly report.
METI surveyed some 1,300 nonfinancial companies from late August to early September, and as a result upgraded its overall view on regional economies from the previous report in May, but it also warned of growing uncertainty.
"The local economies remain in a severe situation, but some signs of recovery are seen," METI said in the report, which was presented to a meeting of its top officials and regional bureau chiefs.