Industrial production fell a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent in August, marking a first monthly drop in two months, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday.
The index of output at mines and factories registered 93.4 against the 2000 base of 100, METI said in a preliminary report.
Production of general machinery declined 3.5 percent in August, following a jump in output of boiler parts and mechanical presses in June and July, it said.