The composite index (CI) of coincident economic indicators fell for the seventh consecutive month in February, down by 2.7 points from the previous month, said the cabinet office in a preliminary report on Monday.

The key gauge of Japan's current economic state for February read 86.8, compared with 100 for the base year of 2005, said the report.

The index of leading indicators, which predicts developments over next several months, shed 2.0 points to 75.2 while that of lagging indicators, which measures performances in the recent past, lost 0.8 point to 90.5.

The CI consists of a wide range of indicators such as industrial production, large-lot electricity use, overtime work hours at manufacturers, wholesale and retail sales, and the ratio of job offers to job seekers.