The government said Friday it has revised upward its economic assessment for eight of the nation's 10 regions, citing brisk exports and a pickup in capital investment.
The eight regions are Hokkaido, Kanto, Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a survey.
METI left its economic assessment on the Tohoku and Tokai regions unchanged from its previous survey in February.
In an overall view, METI said the economic recovery has been gradually spreading nationwide on the back of increasing demand from export-related industries, improvement in corporate profits and increasing capital investment.
The recovery trend is expected to continue, but prices of raw materials and crude oil should be monitored carefully, it said.
Local METI bureaus conducted the regional economic survey from early to mid-June, in which 1,277 companies nationwide replied. The ministry conducts the survey three times a year.