By IANS,
Tokyo : Japan’s industrial production declined a seasonally adjusted 2.6 percent in November from a month earlier, marking the first drop in two months, authorities said Wednesday.
November’s figure came in well below median market forecasts for a 0.8 percent decline and follows a 2.2 percent increase logged in October, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) data showed.
On an annual basis, factory output dropped 4.0 percent, missing forecasts for a 2.0 percent retreat, following a 0.1 percent increase booked in the previous month, said Xinhua.
The index of industrial shipments dropped 1.5 percent to 91.5, while that of industrial inventories fell 0.8 percent to 102.8, the ministry’s data showed.
Global exports retreated 4.5 percent on the year to 5.20 trillion yen in the recording period, the government said, marking the second straight month of declines, while production of transportation equipment fell 9.5 percent from the previous month, marking the first fall in two months.
Production of information and telecommunications equipment, meanwhile, tumbled 23.7 percent in November from the previous month, the ministry said.
Based on the latest data the government maintained its assessment that “industrial production appears to be flat”.