TOKYO -- Sentiment on the front lines of the Japanese economy has turned the gloomiest since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, a Cabinet Office survey out Monday shows, as the new coronavirus cuts into business activity.
The monthly Economy Watchers Survey's index for current economic conditions dropped 14.5 points on the month to 27.4 in February, well under the boom-or-bust line of 50 and marking a low not seen since April 2011.
