Japan's Industrial Output Rises 1 Percent In March

TOKYO (AP) — Japan says its industrial production in March inched up 1.0 percent from February after declining the previous month amid a fragile recovery in the world's third-largest economy.

Production was lifted by an increase in automobile output as well as communications electronics equipment, the Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry said Friday.

Meanwhile, the country's jobless rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent in March, the government said.

Japan's core consumer price index, which excludes fresh foods, rose 0.2 percent in March.