Japan’s Factory Output Falls as Iran War Clouds Demand Outlook

Japan’s factory output fell as the war in Iran clouded prospects for global demand while also threatening manufacturers’ margins by way of higher energy costs.

Industrial production dropped 0.5% in March from the previous month, the Industry Ministry reported Thursday. Economists had expected a 1.1% increase. Output gained 2.3% from a year earlier, compared with expectations of a 2.2% gain.