TOKYO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's industrial output fell in April from a month earlier, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a report on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, industrial output in the recording period declined 0.4 percent from the previous month, with the seasonally adjusted index of output at factories and mines standing at 95.5 against the 2015 base of 100.
The decline in factory output in April marked the first contraction in three months and came on the heels of an upwardly revised 1.1 percent expansion in March.
The ministry retained its basic assessment of the country's industrial output, stating that production was showing signs of increasing at a moderate pace, with production expected to increase in May and June.
The ministry's data set also showed the index of industrial shipments dropped 0.4 percent to 93.0, marking the first drop in three months, while inventories were up 0.3 percent to 104.0, climbing for a third successive month.
The ministry's survey revealed that looking ahead, manufacturers polled expect industrial output here to rise 1.9 percent in May and 1.2 percent in June. ■
