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Indices of Industrial Production

Preliminary report for March, 2012

Statistics report

[Highlights]

Preliminary Report for March, 2012
(published at 8:50a.m., April 27, 2012)

Indices of Industrial Production

Industrial Production continues to show an upward movement.

  • Production increased, Shipments decreased, Inventories and Inventory Ratio increased.
  • According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to increase in April and to decrease in May.
  • Industrial Production continues to show an upward movement.
.
2005 average=100
  Seasonally Adjusted Index Original Index
Indices Percent change from the previous month(%) Indices Percent change from the previous year (%)
Production 95.3 1.0 101.8 13.9
Shipments 95.2 -0.1 105.8 11.1
Inventories 107.5 4.3 101.9 9.6
Inventory Ratio 115.5 4.6 102.0 6.1
1. Changes in Production

(1)Industrial Production

Industrial Production in March increased 1.0% from the previous month, showing an increase for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 13.9% from the previous year. The index in March was 95.3(seasonally adjusted).

Industries that mainly contributed to the increase are as follows: 1.Transport equipment, 2.Information and communication electronics equipment, 3.Ceramics, stone and clay products, in that order.

Commodities that mainly contributed to the increase are as follows: 1.Large passenger cars, 2.Small passenger cars, 3.Drive, transmission and Control parts, in that order.

(2)Survey of Production Forecast*1 (for April and May)

According to the Survey of Production Forecast in Manufacturing, Production is expected to increase 1.0% in April and to decrease 4.1% in May.

Survey of Production Forecast

(Changes in Planned Production on a month-on-month basis (%))

2005 average=100
  March,
2012
April,
2012
May,
 2012
Survey in March, 2012 3.4 -0.3  
Survey in April, 2012   1.0 -4.1

Industries that mainly contributed to the increase in April are as follows: 1.General machinery, 2.Chemicals, 3.Transport equipment, in that order.

Industries that mainly contributed to the decrease in May are as follows: 1.Transport equipment, 2.Electronic parts and devices, 3.General machinery, in that order.

The Realization Ratio*2 in March was -3.2%. The Amendment Ratio*3 in April was -1.9%.

*1:The Survey of Production Forecast is conducted monthly to search the planned production amounts for the current and proceeding months. The survey is one of the useful economic indicators which reflect changing business conditions and provide a view of where the economy is heading in the near future.

*2:The Realization Ratio is defined as the ratio of the real amount of the previous month in the current time's survey to the estimated amount for the current month in the previous time's survey.

*3:The Amendment Ratio is defined as the ratio of estimated amount for the current month in the current time's survey to the estimated amount for the following month in the previous time's survey.

2.Changes in Shipments

Shipments in March decreased 0.1% from the previous month, showing a decrease for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 11.1% from the previous year. The index in March was 95.2(seasonally adjusted).

Industries that mainly contributed to the decrease are as follows: 1.Transport equipment, 2.Fabricated metals, 3.Electrical machinery, in that order.

3.Changes in Inventories

Inventories in March increased 4.3% from the previous month, showing an increase for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 9.6% from the previous year. The index in March was 107.5(seasonally adjusted).

Industries that mainly contributed to the increase are as follows: 1.Information and communication electronics equipment, 2.Transport equipment, 3.Electrical machinery, in that order.

Inventory Ratio in March increased 4.6% from the previous month, showing an increase for the first time in two months. It showed an increase of 6.1% from the previous year. The index in March was 115.5(seasonally adjusted).

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Economic Analysis Office
Research and Statistics Department
Minister's Secretariat
Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry
E-mail qqcebc@meti.go.jp

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Last Update: April 27, 2012
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
1-3-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8901, Japan Tel: +81-(0)3-3501-1511
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