TDB Economic Trends Research is a monthly statistical survey sent to more than 20,000 domestic firms over the Internet, with the purpose of grasping the current state of the domestic economy. Firms are asked to report on their overall business activities, including their performance and business climate, and to make judgments regarding the current condition and future outlook of their respective industries. No survey targets a larger number of firms, and our coverage of small to medium-sized companies is unprecedented. Our *DI calculation enables readers to stay informed of both the business conditions and performance of specific industries. We also believe DI will become an important indicator used by firms in their decision-making. * The DI (Diffusion Index) is calculated by attaching a number (in parentheses in the diagram below) to each of seven possible responses, multiplying the percentage of each response by the appropriate number, and adding the results. Survey Targets and Method Survey targets constitute companies selected averagely by industrial category, by area, and by scale of business and that have agreed to cooperate. These surveys consist of online survey questionnaires (Web research). Apr. 2013 Economic DI 42.4 (up 1.1 points from March 2013) Mar. 2013 Economic DI 41.3 (up 1.5 points from February 2013)