Industrial production data in Japan is negative and weaker than expectations.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry released the final data for Japan's industrial production index for October on Friday morning, which came in weaker than market expectations; indicating a slowdown in industrial activity in Japan and its impact on the country's economic growth. According to the reported data, Japan experienced a slowdown in the industrial production growth rate, registering a month-on-month growth of 2.8% in October, while market expectations had predicted a growth of only 3%, following a strong growth of 3% in September. However, on a year-on-year basis, the official data indicated a growth in industrial production in Japan of 1.4% during October, which is much better than the previous reading for September that showed a contraction of 2.6%. It is worth noting that industrial production is a key indicator of economic health in Japan, as production reacts quickly to the ups and downs in the business cycle and is linked to consumer conditions such as employment levels and earnings.