30.09.202623:50:00UTC+00Japan’s Small Service-Sector Sentiment Stalls as Tankan Index Holds at 15 in Q3

Japan’s small non-manufacturing firms saw business sentiment hold steady in the third quarter of 2026, with the Tankan Small Non-Manufacturing Index unchanged at 15. The reading matches the second-quarter 2026 level, suggesting that confidence in the country’s smaller service-sector businesses has plateaued rather than strengthened further.

The unchanged index indicates that, as of the latest update on 30 September 2026, small service providers neither gained nor lost momentum compared with the previous quarter. While the positive level of 15 still reflects a net optimistic outlook, the lack of improvement may point to persistent headwinds or a wait-and-see attitude among smaller firms in areas such as retail, hospitality and other services. Investors and policymakers are likely to watch coming quarters closely to see whether this stability turns into renewed growth or the start of a sentiment slowdown.