Japan's industrial output drops 0.9 pct in November

Source: Xinhua | 2019-12-30

Japan's industrial output decreased in November from a month earlier, the government said in a report on Friday.

According to the the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), factory output here dropped 0.9 percent from the previous month, with the seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines standing at 97.7 against the 2015 base of 100.

The latest data follows a revised 4.5-percent decline in October, the ministry's preliminary data showed, and marks the second consecutive month of decline and the lowest level since April 2013.

Based on the ministry's preliminary results, it maintained its assessment that output has "weakened," with the industries contributing most prominently to the decrease being production machinery, electrical machinery, and information and communication electronics equipment industries, in that order.

The ministry's data also showed that the index of industrial shipments dropped 1.7 percent to 96.4 and inventories fell 1.1 percent at 103.1 during the recording period.

Looking ahead, factory output is expected to increase 2.8 percent in December and 2.5 percent in January, according to manufacturers surveyed by the ministry.