Japan's Industrial Output Down 9.4% in February

Japan's industrial output fell for the fifth straight month in February, down by 9.4 month-on-month on a seasonally adjusted basis as the global economic recession took a heavy toll on the world's second largest economy, said the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report on Monday.

Further shrinking demand for Japan's automobiles and high-tech products worldwide remains a key factor behind the output decrease, according to the ministry.

The index of inventories registered a record fall, down by 4.2 percent to 103.7 while that of production at mines and factories read 68.7, compared with 100 for the base year of 2005, showed the report.

The ministry, however, predicted a robust growth in production at factories for transport equipment, electrical machinery, chemical products, and electronic parts and devices.