Japan's October industrial output falls as trade friction weighs

[TOKYO] Japan's industrial output fell more than expected in September as a series of typhoons and earthquakes disrupted production and a trade war between the United States and China weighed on exports, clouding the country's economic outlook.

The 1.1 per cent decline in output was more than the median estimate for a 0.3 per cent decline and follows a 0.2 per cent increase in the previous month.

Japan exports a large volumes of electronic parts and equipment to China, which are used to make goods destined for the United States, so Japan's economic growth could weaken if Washington and Beijing remain at loggerheads over trade.