Japan's Industrial Output Rises 1.5% On Month In December

ByBridgeNews Japan's seasonally adjusted industrial and mining production rose 1.5% in December from November to 107.1 (1995=100), worse than the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) projection of a 2% rise but slightly better than the market outlook of 1.4%. Output is expected to rise 0.7% in January and increase 1.9% in February, the Ministry says. METI said "Industrial output is in a gradual rising trend," a slight downgrade from its view in the previous four months. METI had been saying that "industrial output is in an increasing trend." Production rose 0.3% on quarter in October-December, and output increased 5.7% on year in calendar year 2000. METI surveys major makers of key industrial products monthly on their production plans for the next two months. Meanwhile, shipments of capital goods, a coincident indicator of private capital investment, rose 2.1% on quarter in October-December, indicating capital investment in Japan's gross domestic product is expected to show growth on quarter.