Japan's core private-sector machinery orders rose 5.2% in December from the previous month for the third consecutive monthly increase, as more sectors recovered from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Wednesday.
The orders, which exclude those for ships and from electricity utilities due to their volatility, totaled ¥899.61 billion, according to the Cabinet Office, which upgraded its assessment, saying the data indicate a recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
Machinery orders, seen as a leading indicator of capital spending, had increased 17.1% in October, logging the sharpest rise on record, and 1.5% in November.