Japan's July Industrial Output Rise 1.9%

Japanese industrial production in July rose a seasonally adjusted 1.9 percent from the previous month for the fifth straight month of gain, Kyodo News reported.

The index of output at mines and factories stood at 82.4 against the base of 100 for 2005, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report.

The headline reading compares with the average market forecast of a 1.6 percent growth in a Kyodo News survey.

The index of industrial shipments gained 2.3 percent to 83.6 while that of industrial inventories was down 0.2 percent to 95.1.