Tokyo  - Japan's industrial output rose 2.9 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in May, compared to April, the government said Friday.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, downgraded its assessment of industrial production for the first time since December.

The May reading was in line with an average market projection but stronger than a 0.2-per-cent fall in April.

The index for the country's manufacturing and mining sector stood at 109.4 against 100 for the base year of 2005.

The figure for the manufacturing sector was expected to fall 0.9 per cent in June but to pick up again in July by 2.2 per cent. (dpa)