Japan’s industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 3.2 per cent in July from the previous month for the first increase in two months, the government said on Friday.
The figure, which was below the 3.7 per cent rise predicted by analysts surveyed by the Nikkei business daily, followed a 3.1 per cent fall in June.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry maintained its basic assessment, saying “industrial production shows signs of picking up at a moderate pace.” The index of production at factories and mines stood at 97.7 against a baseline of 100 for 2005, the ministry said.
General machinery, electronic parts and devices and transport equipment industries contributed to the bulk of the rise in July, the ministry said.
Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry expected industrial output to edge up 0.2 per cent in August and rise 1.7 per cent in September.
The index of industrial shipments climbed 1.3 per cent in July from the previous month to 94.9, and that of industrial inventories rose 1.5 per cent to 108.6, the ministry said.