Aug 28 (NHK) - Japan's government says the economy is still in a severe situation in August, although it's showing signs of picking up. That assessment is unchanged from the month before as the country grapples with the pandemic.
In its monthly economic report, the government says exports have been starting to rise, led by strong growth in car shipments to the US and China. It says production is also showing signs of recovery in some industries.
Personal consumption also appears to be increasing. The government said the same last month.
But officials say companies continue to face large declines in earnings, and that employment remains weak.
The government says it will keep a close eye on whether the recovery in exports continues. In June and July, it had revised its assessment upward.
