Japan's industrial output in October fell 0.3 percent from a month before to a 13-year low, according to a preliminary report released Thursday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The seasonally adjusted production index for mines and factories came to 92.5 against a 100-point benchmark established in 1995, marking the second consecutive monthly decline.
The figure is the lowest since March 1988, when the index marked 92.4. Although the March 1988 figure is compared with the 1990 base year, a ministry official said statistics have been adjusted to maintain continuity.
The ministry kept its overall assessment in tact for the third consecutive month, saying that production is on a falling trend.
"Industrial output is still falling, though the margin of decline was narrowed. Although cutting back on inventories is under way, demand prospects remain unclear due to circumstances in the United States," the official said.
The official attributed the monthly fall to weak performance of such products as mobile phones and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
The ministry said industrial output is expected to suffer another drop of 1 percent in November but grow 0.8 percent in December.
Inventory for October fell 1.1 percent from the previous month to 97, marking the second month of decline.
Shipments posted a 0.4 percent drop to 94.9, down for two months in a row and marking the lowest reading since February 1994.