Industrial production in Japan jumped 0.7 percent in December, the third consecutive monthly improvement.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday the primary contributors to the increase were the general machinery, transport equipment, and chemicals (excluding drugs) industries.
The barometer is up 4.6 percent from a year ago, the government added.
Meanwhile, the manufacturing survey shows production is expected to decrease 2.8 percent in January, and increase 0.1 percent in February. Industries that mainly contributed to the decrease in January were transport equipment and electronic parts and devices. Industries that contributed to the increase in February were information and communication electronics equipment, transport equipment, and general machinery.Shipments in December decreased 0.8 percent from the previous month, showing a decrease for the first time in three months. Electronic parts and devices, information and communication electronics equipment, and electrical machinery were the industries primarily behind the falloff.
Inventory in December increased 1.3 percent from the previous month, showing an increase for the fifth consecutive month, led by transport equipment, electronic parts and devices, and petroleum and coal products.
