Japan June industrial output falls fastest since 2011 tsunami

Japan industrial output in June fell 3.3% month-on-month, far exceeding the median 1.2% fall forecast in a Reuters poll of economists, and followed a 0.7% increase in May - AFP Photo.

TOKYO: Japan's June industrial output fell at the fastest rate since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 as companies slowed production to offset a build-up in inventories, official data showed on Wednesday, clouding the outlook for the economy.

Manufacturers expect output to rebound in the coming two months as the pain from a sales tax hike in April fades, although soft exports may mean any rebound will be modest.