Japan’s industrial output was down in June for the first time in two months. The decline was mainly due to a slump in automobile production.
The government index shows a 3.6 percent drop in June from the previous month. It fell in all 15 categories. The auto industry posted the biggest decline of 8.9 percent, which can be attributed to five manufacturers involved in safety test scandals suspending production of affected vehicles.
Industry ministry officials say that production is fluctuating, but it has weakened. They expect an increase in July and August largely due to a recovery in the semiconductor market.