Thursday, May 31, 2012

Japan posts anemic factory output growth in April 2012, excess vehicle inventory among problems cited

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5/31/12, "Japan posts anaemic factory output growth in April," AFP

"Japan has posted anaemic factory output growth of 0.2 percent in April, slower than expected and raising concerns about a recovery for the world's third-largest economy.

The economy, trade and industry ministry put a positive gloss on its latest figures, saying output "continues to show an upward movement", while the government and Bank of Japan have both maintained in recent months that growth is on a positive track.

The ministry also pointed to a manufacturers' survey on Thursday showing that, while factory managers expected a 3.2 percent on-month dip in output in May, it would be followed by a 2.4 percent rise in production in June.

RBS Securities chief Japan economist Junko Nishioka was less convinced, saying output has "hit the ceiling" due to excess inventories in some sectors, including the vehicle and communication equipment industries."...


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