Industrial production for February has been revised to a seasonally adjusted fall of 9.4 percent instead of the preliminary reading of 9.5 percent, the government said Wednesday.

Despite the revision, the industrial output index was 69.5 against the base of 100 set in 2005, keeping it the lowest figure logged in the past four years as the widespread recession slowed production of transport equipment and electrical machinery, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said.

The revised number marked the fifth consecutive month of output declines and the longest slump since 2001. But the pace of decline has slowed since the index fell a record 10.1 percent in January, thanks in part to progress in cutting inventory, the ministry said.

Production of transportation equipment, including cars and trucks, slumped 22.5 percent, leading the overall decline.

METI amended preliminary and revised figures for industrial production for the period between January 2008 and February 2009 as part of its periodic review on seasonal adjustment methods.

As a result, it altered the preliminary figure for the February fall to 9.5 percent from 9.4 percent announced March 30.