Japan's industrial output rose 4.2% year on year in June, the strongest in nearly four years

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said in a preliminary estimate published on Thursday 30 July 2026 that industrial production rose 4.2% year on year in June 2026. That is the strongest annual gain in Japanese industrial output in nearly four years, against a 2.1% decline in May. The market had expected a 1.8% rise.

On a monthly basis, industrial production increased 1.3% in June, after 0.1% in May and against a market forecast of 0.7%. The final reading for June is due on 17 August.

The figures landed alongside a 4.1% monthly fall in retail sales for the same month, painting a two-sided picture of the Japanese economy: manufacturing recovering while household consumption weakens.