TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Industrial output in Japan collected a seasonally adjusted 1.0 percent on month in December, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Friday.
That missed expectations for an increase of 1.2 percent following the 0.5 percent contraction in November.
On a yearly basis, output added 0.3 percent - matching forecasts following the 3.7 percent tumble in the previous month.
Upon the release of the data, the METI upgraded its assessment of industrial production, saying that it shows signs of increase at a moderate pace.
Industries that contributed to the increase in December included electronic parts, communication electronics equipment and chemicals.
According to the survey of production forecast in manufacturing, production is expected to increase 6.3 percent in January and decrease 1.8 percent in February.
Industries that mainly contributed to the increase in January include business oriented machinery, transport equipment and communication electronics equipment.
Industries that mainly contributed to the decrease in February included business oriented machinery, communication electronics equipment and transport equipment.
Shipments in December increased 1.1 percent on month, rising for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 0.4 percent on year.
Industries that mainly contributed to the increase were electronic parts and devices, electrical machinery communication electronics equipment.
Inventories in December fell 0.4 percent on month, rising for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 6.1 percent on year.
Industries that mainly contributed to the decrease included iron and steel, electrical machinery and business oriented machinery.
The inventory ratio in December shed 4.1 percent on month, sliding for the first time in three months. It showed an increase of 7.8 percent on year.
Also on Friday: . The average of household spending in Japan was down 3.4 percent on year in December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said - standing at 332,363 yen.
That missed forecasts for a decline of 2.3 percent following the 2.5 percent annual contraction in November.
The average of monthly income per household stood at 924,911 yen, down 0.8 percent on year. The average of consumption expenditures per household was 357,772 yen, down 3.0 percent on year.
. The unemployment rate in Japan was a seasonally adjusted 3.4 percent in December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said. That beat forecasts for 3.5 percent, which would have been unchanged from the November reading.
The jobs-to-applicant ratio was 1.2, beating forecasts for 1.12 - which also would have been unchanged. The participation rate was 59.3, down from 59.4 in the previous month.
. Consumer prices in Japan were up 2.4 percent on year in December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said - topping expectations for 2.3 percent and unchanged from November.
Core CPI, which excludes the volatile costs of food, added 2.5 percent. That was below forecasts for 2.6 percent and down from 2.7 percent in the previous month.
On a monthly basis, overall inflation added 0.1 percent and core CPI eased 0.2 percent.
Overall CPI for the Tokyo region, considered a leading indicator for the nationwide trend, added 2.3 percent on year in January. That topped expectations for 2.2 percent and was up from 2.1 percent in December.
Core CPI for Tokyo gained an annual 2.2 percent - in line with expectations and down from 2.3 percent a month earlier.
On a monthly basis, Tokyo's overall inflation shed 0.3 percent and core CPI eased 0.6 percent.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX