Japan Factory Output Unexpectedly Rises on New IPhone

Japan’s factory output unexpectedly rose the most since December on production of parts for devices including Apple Inc.’s iPhone, providing a bright spot in an economy poised to shrink for a second straight quarter.

Industrial production in October increased 1.8 percent from the previous month, when it dropped 4.1 percent, the Trade Ministry said in Tokyo today. That compares with economist estimates for a 2 percent fall. Production of electronic parts and devices rose 14.7 percent from September, the biggest advance since at least 1998, the ministry said.