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TOKYO : Japan's industrial output rose by a smaller-than-expected 1.4 percent in December from the previous month, the government said Wednesday, issuing a warning over manufacturing activities.
The seasonally-adjusted December growth reversed a fall of 1.6 percent in November but was smaller than the market's average forecast for a rise of 2.1 percent.
The government downgraded its verdict on overall industrial production.
"Production is staying flat as a whole," the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a monthly report, compared with its statement last month that industrial output was on a moderate uptrend.
The downgrading stemmed from a gloomy outlook for January and February, a ministry official said, noting factory production was predicted to fall 0.4 percent in January and another 2.2 percent in February.
"We have to take into account outlooks for January and February when issuing an overall view. Since the predictions are negative, it is difficult now to say production is on an uptrend even moderately," the official said.
As for all of 2007, output rose an unadjusted 2.7 percent from the previous year.
The index hit 109.1 against the base of 100 for 2000, scoring a record high for the second consecutive year. - AFP/ch
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