Core private-sector machinery orders rose a seasonally adjusted 4.6 percent in July from the previous month for the second consecutive month of growth, supported by a rebound in the manufacturing sector, the Cabinet Office said Wednesday.
Close observation is needed to determine if the trend will continue, a Cabinet Office representative said during a briefing on the data, citing further possible downturns in overseas markets as a risk factor to the economy.
The Cabinet Office maintained its assessment on the key gauge of companies' appetite for capital investment, saying machinery orders were "seesawing."