The government on Wednesday maintained its lackluster view of the economy, restating that it has weakened but refraining from indicating whether this signals an end to recovery signs that have been observed in some areas.

"While movements of an incipient recovery can continue to be seen in some areas of the economy, the (overall) state of the economy has weakened somewhat," the Cabinet Office said in a February report, leaving its January view intact.

It is the first time in four months that the government left its view unchanged from the preceding month. In January, the office downgraded its economic assessment for the third straight month, citing slower production activities.