11.   Sectors that contributed most to the decline were general machinery, electric machinery and plastic products.

12.   Total investment outlay on durable equipment consists largely of fixed investments on machinery specialized for certain industries, general industrial machinery and transport equipment.

13.   An EPA official said that, on a year-on-year basis, orders were supported by increases for general machinery, electrical machinery and auto parts.

14.   The rise in September output was due to better than previously expected production in sectors such as general machinery and electrical equipment, they said.

15.   Lower output in June was due mainly to declines in the general machinery, transportation machinery and electrical machinery sectors.

16.   Mitsubishi said both revenues and operating profits rose in its general machinery division as well as its aviation and space equipment division.

17.   Personal computer output and general machinery production also showed strong growth, the official said.

18.   The official said a decline in output in sectors such as general machinery and steel pressured the rise in the overall data.

19.   The ministry said the increase was highlighted by expanded output of electrical machinery, transportation equipment and general machinery.