Japan factory production down 2.2pc in May
Japan's factory output fell a sharper-than-expected 2.2 percent month-on-month in May, reversing a rise in the previous month, official data showed Monday.
The reading from Japan's industry ministry was worse than the rise of 1.2 percent posted in April and market median forecasts for a drop of 0.8 percent.
The reading came after trade data showed earlier this month that Japan's exports rose a weaker-than-forecast 2.4 percent in May.
Analysts had expressed concern about the health of the Japanese economy, particularly that weak demand overseas could dent factory output as manufacturers try to cut the inventory buildup that boosted growth in the first quarter.
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