20000330

Japanese industrial production

TOKYO: Japanese industrial production rose 0.9 percent in January from December, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said on Tuesday.

The rise, measured after adjustment for seasonal factors, was less than the 2.7 percent increase forecast by economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires. It was also less than the ministry's December forecast of a 3.6 percent increase.

Looking ahead, the ministry said that overall output is on a gradual upward trend. It expects output to rise 2.7 percent in February from January and then fall 3.2 percent in March.

Industrial output is closely watched as an indicator of Japan's economic health. Japan is struggling to emerge from its worst economic downturn in 50 years.ÑAP