Core private-sector machinery orders fell a seasonally adjusted 7.9 percent in June from the previous month, for the first decline in four months, the government said Thursday. The fall signaled a possible dent in corporate investment demand.

The value of orders, widely regarded as a leading indicator of future capital spending, totaled ¥835.9 billion. The orders exclude those for ships and from utilities because of their volatility.

The government maintained its basic assessment, saying orders have been "picking up," reflecting a rising trend in which orders climbed 2.9 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter for the fourth straight quarterly growth, a government official said.