Tankan, March 2026 survey: the business conditions DI for large enterprises, all industries, is 27A survey asking companies "How is the economy?" (March 2026 survey results)
In the 208th Tankan (Short-Term Economic Survey of Enterprises in Japan, March 2026 survey), published by the Bank of Japan on April 1, 2026, the business conditions DI for all industries ("favorable" minus "unfavorable", percentage points) was 27 for large enterprises, 23 for medium-sized enterprises and 13 for small enterprises. The changes in the "actual results" from the previous survey were +2, +1 and -1 points, respectively.
Key points
- The survey covered 9,209 firms, with a response rate of 99.0%; the response period was February 26 to March 31
- The all-industry business conditions DI (actual results) is 27 for large, 23 for medium-sized and 13 for small enterprises; the outlook is 21, 14 and 7
- For large enterprises, actual results are 17 in manufacturing and 36 in non-manufacturing; the outlook is 14 and 29
- Medium-sized enterprises: manufacturing 16, non-manufacturing 27; small enterprises: manufacturing 7, non-manufacturing 16 (all actual results)
What to do in practice
- Check the figures for the industry and size category closest to yours and compare them with your own sense
- Use the outlook as one reference when thinking about orders and cash flow
The Bank of Japan runs a large survey four times a year asking companies across the country "How is the economy right now?". In the results announced on April 1, 2026 for the March 2026 survey, more companies answered "favorable" than "unfavorable". The outlook for about three months ahead, however, was lower than the current figure.
Points
- Among large, medium-sized and small enterprises alike, "favorable" answers outnumbered "unfavorable" ones
- There is a difference by company size, with large enterprises showing the bigger figures
- The outlook for about three months ahead was somewhat lower than the current figure
What the words mean
- Tankan
- A survey by the Bank of Japan asking companies across the country about the economy
- DI
- The share answering "favorable" minus the share answering "unfavorable"
短 観（概要）―２０２６年３月― 第２０８回 全国企業短期経済観測調査 ２０２６年４月１日 (注) 1. 回答率 ＝ 業況判断の有効回答社数 ／ 調査対象企業数 × 100 2. 「最近」の変化幅は、前回調査の｢最近」との対比。「先行き」の変化幅は、今回調査の「最近」との対比。
- Bank of Japan: Bank of Japan, Tankan (summary), March 2026 survey
- Bank of Japan: Bank of Japan, Tankan (summary), 2026 onward
Economic news presents published statistics and outlooks. It is not investment solicitation or trading advice. Figures are as of publication and may be revised.
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