(Adds summary's reference on wages)
By Leika Kihara
TOKYO, April 20 (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan maintained
its upbeat economic assessment for most regions on Thursday,
saying wage hikes were broadening, underscoring its conviction
that the country was on a path to sustainably meet its inflation
target of 2%.
In a quarterly report analysing regional economies, the
central bank left unchanged its assessment for seven of Japan's
nine regions, which were "picking up" or "picking up
moderately", it added.
"Many regions said wage hikes were broadening, even among
small and mid-sized firms due to intensifying job shortages and
rising inflation," the bank said in a summary of a meeting of
its regional branch managers.
The BOJ's two-day policy meeting that ends on April 28 will
scrutinise the report and the summary, among other factors.
(Reporting by Leika Kihara;
Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Clarence Fernandez)
Messaging: leika.kihara.reuters.com@reuters.net))
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