Showing an increase for the first time in two months, Japan's plants and factories boosted output by 1.8% in August, revised official figures showed Oct. 13. Year-on-year, output was up 5.9 %, the trade ministry said.
Earlier the ministry had reported a 1.9% month-on-month rise and a gain of 6% from a year earlier.
Shipments rose 2.5% from the previous month, unchanged from the initial estimate, while inventories were up 0.9%, compared with the earlier estimate of a 1% increase.
The rise in output was mainly driven by rising output of transport equipment, electronics devices and electric machinery.
Japanese growth has slowed sharply from the pace seen at the start of the year as a U.S. economic slowdown offsets strong domestic consumption.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
