Japan's industrial output down 6.2%

Japan's industrial output in February fell a seasonally adjusted 6.2 % from the previous month, as production of vehicles, electronic devices and manufacturing equipment dropped, the Japanese government said Wednesday.
The index of output at factories and mines stood at 93.6 against the base of 100 in 2010, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report.
But the government maintained its basic assessment of production, saying the trend of output is fluctuating without a clear direction, with production expected to rebound in the coming months.
The index is projected to rise 3.9 % and 5.3 % in March and April, respectively, according to manufacturers polled by the ministry.
The index of industrial shipments declined 4.6 % in February, while that of inventories was down 0.1 % in the month.