TOKYO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Sentiment in Japan's service sector improved for a second straight month in April as a result of COVID-19 emergency measures being lifted for the vast majority of areas that had been under restrictions, a cabinet office survey showed Thursday.
The monthly Economy Watchers survey's diffusion index, in which a score above the boom-or-bust 50 line means more people view current economic conditions in a positive light, rose 2.6 points from March to 50.4, the Cabinet Office said.
The office said that it was the first time since December the index topped the psychologically important 50-mark.
Based on the latest survey, the Cabinet Office upgraded its assessment of the economy from the previous month, stating that it has shown "signs of picking up."
The diffusion index of business sentiment, which gauges opinions in the coming months, edged up 0.2 points from March to 50.3, the office also said.
Segments of the economy surveyed include sectors such as retail, restaurant service, and taxi driving, and the monthly report serves as both a consumer confidence indicator and a leading indicator for the rest of the economy.
The survey showed that sentiment had improved in April, and had topped the boom-or-bust 50 line, meaning that overall, more people polled felt conditions had improved in comparison to the previous three months.
The survey was conducted between April 25 to 30 and polled 2,050 workers across Japan. ■