Japan's industrial output falls
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- Japan's industrial production fell 1.7 percent in February from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, preliminary data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) showed on Monday.
That was worse than a median forecast of a 0.9 percent fall in a Reuters survey of 19 economists conducted last week.
METI forecast manufacturers' output -- a key component and close proxy of industrial production -- would rise 2.8 percent in March and rise 0.2 percent for April.
The ministry kept its assessment of industrial output unchanged from last month, saying it remains on a weak trend.
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