Japan Leading Economic Index

Last Release

Apr 30, 2025

Actual

104.2

Units In

Points

108.1

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Jul 25, 2025

Time to Release

28 Days 5 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
112.2 Mar 2024	72.5 Jul 1986	92.93 Points	1985-2025	N/A

In Japan, the Leading Composite Index consists of 12 indexes such as account inventory ratios, machinery orders, stock prices and other leading economic indicators. The index anticipates changes in the direction of the Japanese economy in the coming months. In general, increase in the index reflects that the economy is in an expansion phase, and decreasing coincident index reflects that the economy is in a contraction phase. The index is used to make official judgement on when the business cycle begins and ends.

Latest Updates

Japan’s leading economic index — which reflects the outlook for the coming months based on indicators such as job offers and consumer sentiment — was revised up to 104.2 in April 2025 from a preliminary estimate of 103.4. However, the latest reading was down from a final 107.6 in March, marking the lowest level since August 2020, as annual household spending fell in April, reversing the growth seen in March. Meanwhile, total employment dropped to a six-month low in April, although the unemployment rate remained steady at 2.5%. On the other hand, consumer sentiment improved slightly, rising to 32.8 in May from April’s more than two-year low of 31.2.