TABLE-Japan leading indicator index -0.2 point in May

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 TOKYO, July 4 (Reuters) - Japan's index of leading economic
indicators fell 0.2 point to a preliminary 92.6 in May from 92.8
in April, the government said on Friday. [JPLEIN=ECI]

 The leading index is compiled using data such as the number
of new job offers, consumer sentiment and Tokyo share prices.

 The government switched to a new data series, based on
composite rather than diffusion indexes, from the April figures
published in June.

 Composite indexes are aimed at capturing the momentum of the
economy by aggregating the percentage change in a selected series
of data, while diffusion indexes aggregate only the direction of
change.

 Details were as follows:

 (month-on-month changes in points)

 ----------------------------------------------------------

                        MAY        APR        MAR

 Leading Index         -0.2       +2.0       -2.3

 Coincident Index      +1.3       -0.7       -2.4

 Lagging Index         +0.2       -1.2       +0.5
  ----------------------------------------------------------

 To view full tables, go to the official home page of the
Cabinet Office at http/www.esri.cao.go.jp/en/stat/menu.html. or
here
 Source:The Cabinet Office
 (Reporting by Hideyuki Sano; Editing by Chris Gallagher)