In August, Japan's industrial production experienced a seasonally adjusted decrease of 3.3 percent from the previous month, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This decline significantly exceeded the anticipated drop of 0.5 percent, following a 3.1 percent increase in July.
On an annual basis, industrial output fell by 4.9 percent. Shipments also saw a decline, decreasing by 4.0 percent month-over-month and 6.4 percent year-over-year. Inventories showed a modest reduction, easing by 0.6 percent from the previous month and 2.0 percent from the same period last year.
Despite these figures, METI upheld its current assessment of industrial production, noting that it continues to exhibit indecisive fluctuations.
Looking ahead, METI's forecast predicts a 2.0 percent rise in industrial output for September, followed by a more substantial increase of 6.1 percent in October.