The government said Friday it has revised down the key gauge of the state of the economy for August, due to negative data on manufacturers' capacity operating rate.
August's index of coincident economic indicators has been revised to 50 percent from the earlier reported 55.6 percent, according to the Cabinet Office's Economic and Social Research Institute.
A reading above 50 percent is considered a sign of economic expansion.
The revision was attributed to negative data on plant utilization that were not available earlier.
The index of coincident indicators had stayed above the boom-or-bust line of 50 percent for three months until July.
The index of leading indicators, measuring economic movements about six months down the road, was revised to 50 percent from the earlier reported 55.6 percent, due to weak data on machinery orders.