The Economy Watchers’ Survey index for Japan’s current economic climate tumbled for the third straight month in October as the global slump and the territorial dispute with China continued to dampen new orders and tourism, Cabinet Office data released Thursday showed. Meanwhile, the forward-looking index fell for the sixth straight month on concerns about the impact of the government’s plan to double the 5% sales tax by 2015, although some expected rush demand before the two-stage tax hike. The current conditions index slumped to 39.0 last month from 41.2 in September. It remained the lowest level since May 2011, ... (full story)