Opinion Survey on the General Public's Views and Behavior (107th): the DI for current business conditions is -53.0A Bank of Japan survey asking ordinary people how they feel about the economy and prices
On October 13, 2026 the Bank of Japan published the results of its "Opinion Survey on the General Public's Views and Behavior" (107th, September 2026 survey). It covered 4,000 individuals aged 20 or over nationwide, with 1,972 valid respondents (valid response rate 49.3%). The DI ("improved" minus "worsened") for current business conditions compared with a year earlier was -53.0, a smaller negative than the -56.7 in the previous survey (106th, June 2026).
Key points
- The survey ran from August 3 to September 4, 2026, used stratified two-stage random sampling, and was conducted by mail (respondents chose to reply by mail or online)
- The DI for business conditions one year ahead compared with now is -36.2 (previously -42.5), and the DI for living conditions now compared with a year earlier is -49.9 (previously -50.2)
- On how prices feel now compared with a year earlier, 68.9% answered "gone up a lot" and 26.6% "gone up a little", together 95.5%. For one year ahead, 34.5% answered "will go up a lot" and 54.1% "will go up a little", together 88.6% (the totals are added up in this article)
- On trust in the Bank of Japan, 14.1% answered "trust" and 29.4% "trust, if anything". 21.9% answered that they "know" the 2% price stability target
What to do in practice
- Think about how your customers' living conditions and sense of prices compare with the trends in this survey
- When considering price revisions or wages, treat consumers' views on prices as one input
Four times a year the Bank of Japan asks people aged 20 or over across the country how they feel about the economy and prices. In the results published on October 13, 2026, 58.2% said business conditions had "worsened" compared with a year earlier, far more than the 5.2% who said "improved". More than nine in ten feel that prices have "gone up".
Points
- 58.2% said business conditions had "worsened" compared with a year earlier, and 5.2% said "improved"
- Those who said prices had "gone up a lot" or "gone up a little" compared with a year earlier came to 95.5% together
- Those who think prices will "go up" a year from now came to 88.6% together
What the words mean
- DI
- The share who answered "improved" minus the share who answered "worsened"
- prices
- The overall movement in what things cost
調査対象：全国の満20歳以上の個人 標本数：4,000人（有効回答者数1,972人＜有効回答率49.3％＞） 抽出方法：層化二段無作為抽出法 調査方法：郵送調査法（回答方式は、郵送回答又はインターネット回答の選択式）
- Bank of Japan: Bank of Japan, Opinion Survey on the General Public's Views and Behavior (107th, September 2026 survey)
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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