-- Japan's services sector shrank slightly on a seasonally adjusted basis in February from January, but still grew on year, reported the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry on Monday.
Japan's service sector index declined by 0.2% in February from January, but still expanded by 1.9% on year, reported METI.
The sub-category of broad-ranging personal services declined by 0.3% on month in February, but grew by 1% on year, added the agency.
Meanwhile, the sub-category of broad-ranging business services grew by 0.1% on month in February, and expanded by 2.6% on year, said METI.
Japan's financial services industries have been especially strong, growing in February by 12.2% on year, according to official figures.
In contrast, the retail trade sector declined by 0.8% on year in February, pulled down by slow auto sales, reported METI.
The February report from METI was somewhat more tempered than recent service-sector reports from S&P Global.
Japan's headline service-sector purchasing managers index (PMI) logged at 53.4 in March, down from 53.8 in February, but still struck above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction, recently reported S&P Global.