Sentiment on the front lines of the workforce improved for the fourth month in a row in February, although pessimistic workers continue to outnumber those with an optimistic outlook, according to a government report released Monday.
The diffusion index of the so-called economy watchers' views on the current state of the economy has reached 33.1, up 1.2 points from January, the Cabinet Office said. But the reading is the DI's 19th month in a row below the break-even point of 50.
A reading of 50 indicates that the respondents -- who include taxi and truck drivers, department store clerks and restaurant and shop owners -- generally believe the economy has not changed in the past three months.