Japan's industrial output in May rose 3.9 percent from April, increasing for the fourth consecutive month thanks to brisk exports, according to a preliminary report released Friday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade Industry.
The month-on-month rise is the largest since September 1992, when industrial production increased 4.2 percent from the previous month, ministry officials said.
The seasonally adjusted production index at mines and factories came to 96.6 in May against a 100-point benchmark established in 1995. The index marked its highest level since June 2001, when the figure marked 97.8.