Japan's factory output down, jobless rate steady

Japan's factory output fell in February for the first time in a year, dragged by sluggish demand for transport and telecommunications equipment.

Industrial production in the world's second biggest economy retreated 0.9 percent from a month earlier, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The result missed Kyodo News agency's average market forecast of a 0.4 percent decline and suggests growing caution among manufacturers amid a patchy economic recovery.

Inventories rose 1 percent from the previous month, while shipments slipped 0.2 percent, the ministry said.

The government predicts production will climb 1.4 percent in March before falling slightly again in April.

In a separate report, Japan's unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in February - unchanged from the previous month. The number of jobless rose 8.4 percent from a year earlier to 3.24 million, while the number of those employed fell 1.3 percent to 61.85 million.

The ratio of job offers to job seekers stood at a seasonally adjusted 0.47 in February, the labor ministry said. That means there were 47 positions available for every 100 job seekers.

The government also said household spending fell 0.5 percent in February from a year earlier. The result marks the first decline in seven months.