TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's industrial output in February rose 2.5 percent from the previous month, marking the first gain in four months, government data showed Monday.

The seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines was 102.4 against the 2020 base of 100, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report. It followed a 1.1 percent decline in January.

The ministry maintained its basic assessment of industrial production from the month before, saying it "fluctuates indecisively."

Of the 15 industrial sectors covered in the survey, nine, including production machinery, and electronic parts and devices, saw output increases, while six, such as transport equipment excluding motor vehicles as well as inorganic and organic chemicals, logged decreases.

Based on a poll of manufacturers, the ministry expects output to climb 0.6 percent in March and 0.1 percent in April.

In February, the index of industrial shipments rose 3.0 percent to 101.5, while that of inventories was down 1.7 percent to 100.9.