Japan factory output logs sharpest drop

TOKYO: Japan’s factory output in June logged its sharpest fall since the 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster, hit largely by drops in cars and industrial machine production, official data showed on Wednesday.

The lacklustre figures—which come a day after separate data showed the labor market was tightening as consumer spending ticked up—reflected the mixed picture for the world’s number three economy after Tokyo hiked sales taxes in April.