Japan’s Factory Output Records Weakest Quarter Since Pandemic

(Bloomberg) — Japan’s factory output rebounded in March from a dismal start to the year, with the quarterly figure registering the weakest performance since the height of the pandemic in a sign the economy may have contracted during the period.

Industrial production rose 3.8% in March from February, as demand picked up after two straight months of declines, industry ministry data showed Tuesday. The result exceeded the consensus forecast of a 3.3% gain.