Japan’s industrial production edged up a seasonally adjusted 0.5 per cent in May from the previous month for the first increase in two months, the government said on Monday.
The figure was slightly below the 0.9-per-cent increase forecasted by analysts surveyed by the Nikkei business daily, following a 2.8 per cent drop in April.
“Industrial production appears to be flat,” the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.
Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry expected industrial output to inch down 0.7 per cent in June and increase 1.5 per cent in July.
The index of industrial shipments fell 1.2 per cent in May from the previous month and industrial inventories rose 2.9 per cent, the ministry said.