Japan’s all industry activity increased for the second straight month in July, defying economists’ expectations to remain flat, figures from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed Thursday.
The all industry activity index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent month-over-month in July, slower than the 0.5 percent climb in June, revised up from 0.3 percent. Economists had expected the index to remain flat during the month.
The index measuring construction activity grew 2.8 percent in July, while industrial production dropped by 0.8 percent.
The tertiary activity index also went up 0.2 percent in July, following a 0.3 percent gain in the prior month.
On an annual basis, the all industry activity index climbed at a slower pace of 1.7 percent in July, after a 2.2 percent increase in June. It was the second successive monthly rise.
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