Japan's all industry activity decreased for the second straight month in December, and at a faster-than-expected pace, figures from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed Friday.
The all industry activity index slid a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent month-over-month in December, exceeding economists' expectations for a 0.3 percent drop.
In November, the measure had fallen 1.1 percent, which was revised from a 1.1 percent decline reported earlier.
The index measuring construction activity fell 2.1 percent over the month. Similarly, the corresponding index for both industrial and tertiary activity dipped by 1.7 percent and 0.6 percent, respectively.
On a yearly basis, the all industry activity dropped 0.5 percent at the end of the year, reversing a 1.4 percent gain a month earlier. It was the first decrease in seven months.
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