Japan’s October Service Sector Sentiment at Highest in Nearly 8 Years

People sit in a restaurant using plexiglass separators to protect customers from COVID-19 in the Shibuya area of Tokyo, Japan, on July 29, 2021. Androniki Christodoulou/Reuters

TOKYO—Japan’s service sector sentiment index in October rose to its highest level in nearly eight years after state-of-emergency curbs were eased last month and new COVID-19 cases slid.

The economy watchers’ index advanced 13.4 points to 55.5 in October, the highest level since January 2014, the government data showed. It was the second straight month of increase and marked the biggest gain since June 2020.