Japan released its consumer confidence data for October 2026, showing a reading of 35. The figure came in below the market forecast of 35.1 and was lower than the previous period’s reading of 35.4.
What the figure measures
Consumer confidence is a survey-based gauge of how households feel about their finances and the economy. A higher reading generally means households are more optimistic about spending, while a lower reading suggests they are more cautious about money and the outlook.
The reading of 35 is therefore a snapshot of household sentiment for the reference period, measured against both expectations and the figure recorded before it.
Comparison with forecast and previous period
Against the forecast of 35.1, the reported value was below expectations by a small margin. Compared with the previous period’s 35.4, the reading was also lower, so the two comparisons point the same way on this release.
The data was released at 05:00 GMT on 29 October 2026.
Related: US consumer sentiment slips to four-month low in October · German consumer confidence at -30.8 for November
