TOKYO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's industrial production rose 4.0 percent in April from the previous month, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a report on Wednesday.
The ministry said on a seasonally adjusted basis the index of output at factories and mines stood at 103.8 against the base of 100 for 2010, in the recording period.
According to the ministry, the rise in production comes on the heels of a revised 1.9 percent fall in March, although missed median economists' forecasts for a 4.3 percent rise.
The index of industrial shipments gained 2.7 percent to 101.1 and that of inventories was up 1.5 percent to 111.3, the ministry's latest data showed.
The ministry said that the rise in production was due to more growth in output of transport equipment, machinery and electronic devices and components.
The ministry also noted that pace of production on an annualized basis had also accelerated in the recording period, rising 5.7 percent from 3.5 percent in the previous month.
The annual pace of production growth also gathered momentum, accelerating to 5.7 percent after slowing to a pace of 3.5 percent in March, the government's data also showed.
Looking a head, however, a ministry survey revealed that manufacturers here now expected a decline in production on-month in May to 2.5 percent, with 1.8 percent growth expected in June.
