Industrial production grew for a second consecutive month in December in a positive sign for the nation's stalled economic recovery.

With output posting a gain of 3.1 percent in the month and manufacturers expecting a further increase in January, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry raised its basic assessment for production in a preliminary report Monday, saying output has shown "signs of an upward movement."

For 2010, the index of output at factories and mines rose 15.9 percent from the previous year to 94.0 against the base of 100 for 2005, marking the first rise in three years, amid improvement in overseas economies.