Industrial production inched up a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent in September from the previous month, scoring a second straight monthly increase for the first time since the summer of 2004, according to a preliminary government report released Friday.
Nevertheless, September's growth figure fell way short of market expectations of a 2 percent rise.
The index of output at mines and factories came to 101.3 against the 2000 base of 100, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry report said. The index last rose for two months in a row in June and July 2004.
The rise in output was mostly brought about by solid demand for vehicles in Japan and abroad, as well as robust production of parts and devices for use in devices such as game consoles and cell phones.
and audiovisual equipment, a METI official said.
The index for electrical parts and devices output reached 124.8 in September, the highest figure since the base year, he said.