Japan: Industrial output expands at quickest pace in six months in December
Industrial production rose 1.4% month-on-month in seasonally adjusted terms in December (November: -0.9% mom). December’s figure marked the best reading since June. Looking at the details of the release, manufacturing production bounced back in December, while mining output swung to contraction.
On an annual basis, industrial production decreased 1.0% in December, which was better than November’s 1.4% fall. Accordingly, the trend improved slightly, with the annual average variation of industrial production coming in at minus 1.1% in December, up from November’s minus 1.2% reading.