Overview
- The seasonally adjusted index reached 104.0 on a 2020=100 basis, marking the first monthly gain in three months.
- METI kept its baseline assessment at "one step forward, one step back," indicating no clear recovery trend.
- Thirteen of 15 industries expanded, led by automobiles and plastic products, while production machinery and pulp and paper contracted.
- METI's short-term outlook anticipates a 0.5% drop in February followed by a 2.6% decline in March.
- Regional data showed the Tohoku index fell 1.7% in December to 105.6 for a second straight monthly decrease, with the local bureau noting signs of recovery.