Industrial production in Japan was unchanged in July from the previous month, the government said Wednesday. The figure was below the average estimate of a 0.8% increase by a Nikkei business daily poll and followed a 2.3% rise in June. 

July's industrial production fell 3.8% year-on-year, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. "Industrial production fluctuates indecisively, but shows signs of increase in part," the ministry said. 

Manufacturers expect industrial production to jump 4.1% in August and fall 0.7% in September, the ministry's survey showed. The index of industrial shipments rose 0.9% in July from the previous month to 96.0, and that of industrial inventories declined 2.4% to 111.2.