HIGHLIGHTS-Japan Feb tertiary sector index -1.7 pct m/m

TOKYO, April 21 (Reuters) - Japan's tertiary sector index of
service industry activity fell 1.7 percent in February,
government data showed on Monday, below a market median forecast
for a 0.5 percent decline. [JPTERT=ECI]

Following are key points on the data, based on a briefing by
the the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

-- The 1.7 percent decline was heavily affected by the impact
of an extra day in February for the leap year. This led to the
newspaper sales figures, for example, being split over an extra
day.

-- Cold weather and many snowy days in February dampened
activity in some sectors. The fall matched a 1.7 percent drop in
March last year.

-- Activity in the services sector fell 4.1 percent in
February, while that in the real estate sector declined 4.8
percent. Both were the biggest fall for the sectors under the
current base year calculation method that traces back to 1998.

-- Sectors such as finance and insurance, and wholesale and
retail trade also showed falls.

-- Activity in electricity, gas, heat and water rose 4.3
percent, thanks to the cold weather. The index for the sector
stood at 114.7, the highest under the current calculation method.

-- When the ministry revises the base year to calculate the
data, which is expected to take place around June this year, it
would consider adjusting the method to lessen the irregular
impact from the leap year, a ministry official said.

-- Some of the historical figures over the past year were
revised sharply due to the ministry's annual revision to seasonal
adjustments.

Details were as follows (some previous figures are revised.
Economists' median forecast is in parentheses):

FEB JAN DEC FEB INDEX
Tertiary index -1.7 (-0.5) +0.4 -0.5 108.4

To view the full tables, please go to the Web site
of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry here
(Reporting by Yoko Nishikawa; Editing by Hugh Lawson)