Output, order book volumes and foreign demand all increased solidly following modest expansions in August. Employment expanded for the thirteenth month in a row, albeit at the weakest pace since last November. Input price pressures continued to rise, although the rate of inflation facing producers was not met with equal hikes in charges to customers. Output prices picked up only marginally in September.

The headline Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index - a composite singlefigure indicator of manufacturing performance - was at a four-month high of 52.9 in September, rising from 52.2 in August and signalling a robust improvement in the health of the manufacturing sector.