Japan's economy nearly ceased worsening as it began to reopen following the complete lifting of a nationwide state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, the government said in its monthly economic report for June released Friday.
The government, which said the economy was "worsening rapidly" in its May report, revised its monthly assessment upward for the first time since January 2018.
"The Japanese economy is still in an extremely severe situation due to the novel coronavirus, but it almost stopped deteriorating," the Cabinet Office said, citing improving private consumption in line with the reopening of economic activities across the country.