Japan's factories expand output for a second month in July

TOKYO : Japan's factories extended expansion in output to a second month in July as motor vehicle production improved, marking a positive start to the third quarter for manufacturers and broader economic activity.

Separate data showed retail sales grew for a fifth straight month in July, adding to hopes that the world's third-largest economy will benefit from resilience in spending by consumers in the current quarter.

Factory output rose a seasonally adjusted 1.0 per cent in July from a month earlier, official data showed on Wednesday, extending the prior month's near double-digit surge.

Output was boosted by higher production of passenger cars and trucks and general-purpose machinery to come in better than a 0.5 per cent decrease expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Production of electronic parts and devices, however, declined a sharp 9.2 per cent after surging 11.6 per cent in June.

The data comes after Japan's main automaker Toyota Motor Corp said on Tuesday its global vehicle production for July had fallen 8.6 per cent year-on-year, missing its target for the fourth straight month.

Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) expected output to rise another 5.5 per cent in August and 0.8 per cent in September.

Separate data showed retail sales were stronger than expected, rising 2.4 per cent in July from a year earlier to extend its gains to a fifth straight month.

Retail sales were helped by stronger sales of medicine and toiletries as well as general merchandise.

That compared with a median forecast for a 1.9 per cent advance in a Reuters poll.