Maintains assessment for three of Japan's nine regions in quarterly report.

Economy picking up, or recovering moderately, for all regions.

Many regions saw exports, output moving sideways.

Many firms said they wanted to look at price developments, what rivals do in deciding by how much they would raise wages next year.

Many firms expect to keep hiking wages given structural labor shortages.

Many regions said companies' price hikes to pass on costs was moderating, though some saw firms setting prices on expectations of future wage hikes.

Some branch managers said companies saw weak yen, rising crude oil prices as heightening cost pressures.