Japan's top economic council urges focus on weak yen to aid recovery in consumption.

Japan's top economic council urges the government and the Bank of Japan to guide policy with a focus on the weak yen, which is hurting consumption. Achieving a recovery in consumption that declined for four consecutive quarters is essential to the government's near-term economic policy. Policymakers are concerned about the economic impact of the weak yen, which has increased the cost of fuel and food imports.