Japan’s consumer confidence rose 0.2 point to 36.4 from the previous month, marking the first increase in three months, the government said Monday. But as the rise was small, the Cabinet Office maintained its basic assessment of the index for the second straight month, citing a slowdown in the pace of improvement. Among the survey’s components, consumers’ perception of income growth improved, possibly reflecting solid wage hikes led by big firms in this year’s “shunto” spring wage negotiations. Consumers’ assessment of overall livelihoods and employment slightly deteriorated. The survey showed…