Japan: Industrial production rebounds in December
Industrial production increased 1.3% in December on a month-on-month and seasonally-adjusted basis, contrasting November’s 1.0% decrease and surpassing the 0.7% increase expected by market analysts.
The categories that drove the month-on-month expansion were production machinery, general-purpose and business orientated machinery, and electronic parts and devices, in that order. On the other hand, production of motor vehicles and other transport equipment declined.
On an annual basis, industrial production dropped 3.0% in December, after decreasing 8.2% in November. The annual average variation in industrial production was unchanged at minus 2.8% in December.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s survey showed that manufacturers are growing optimistic. Manufacturers project industrial production to increase 3.5% in January, up from their December projection of a 2.5% increase, and they see industrial output rising 4.1% in February.