Japan's industrial output falls 1.6 pct on month in May

Japan's industrial output dropped 1.6 percent from a month earlier in May, the government said in a report on Friday.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 103.8 against the 2020 base of 100.

The ministry's data set also showed the index of industrial shipments fell 0.6 percent to 103.9, marking the second straight month of decline.

Inventories, meanwhile, were up 1.5 percent to 105.3 in the recording period, the ministry also said.

The ministry's survey revealed that looking ahead, manufacturers polled expect industrial output here to rise 5.6 percent in June, but decline 0.6 percent in July.