Japan's industrial output drops 3.7 pct on month in January

Japan's factory output dropped in January from a month earlier, the government said in a report on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, industrial output here declined 3.7 percent in January, following a 0.1 percent drop in December.

The ministry also said in its preliminary report that the seasonally adjusted index of output at factories and mines stood at 100.8 against the 2015 base of 100.

The index of industrial shipments dropped 4.0 percent to 99.2. Inventories, meanwhile, were down 1.5 percent to 101.6 in the recording period, the ministry said.

Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry said that looking ahead they expect factory output to rise 5.0 percent in February and slip 1.6 percent in March.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)