Core machinery orders in July-September grew for the second straight quarter, with the steady recuperation of the economy prodding many companies to boost investment, the government said Wednesday.
But the private-sector orders, which exclude those for ships as well as those from utilities because of their volatility, fell in September and are expected to drop during the October-December period, the Cabinet Office said, suggesting uncertainty over the future course of capital spending.
The orders, regarded as a leading indicator of business investment, rose 4.3 percent to ¥2.39 trillion in the three months through September. Given the growth, the Cabinet Office kept its basic assessment of the orders intact, saying they are "picking up."