Japan's industrial output up 4% in Dec., down in 2011

Japan's industrial production grew 4. 0 percent in December from the previous month, marking the first expansion in two months, but it fell 3.5 percent in 2011, the government said Tuesday.

The index for factories and mines output stood at 93.6, against the base of 100 for 2005, according to a preliminary report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The industrial output index for 2011, however, declined 3.5 percent from a year earlier.

The fall was mainly attributed to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that devastated factories in the hard-hit northeastern prefectures, disrupting supply chains in the country.

On a sector basis, the output of telecommunications equipment contracted 22.8 percent, cars and other transport equipment shrank 9.9 percent, and electronic parts also saw a contraction of 9.4 percent.