Industrial output in May rose 2.3 percent from the previous month, helped by robust auto production, government data showed Friday.
The seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 105.2 against the 2015 base of 100 — the highest level since 105.6, seen last October — the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report. The result followed a 0.6 percent increase in April.
"We had expected overall production to drop because of the 10-day Golden Week holidays (through May 6) but it was stronger than we had anticipated, which shows that underlying domestic demand is robust," a ministry official said.