Export-Reliant Japan Faces Setback as Factory Output Declines

• Japan’s Nov exports drop 0.9%, with 2.5% in auto and 3.5% in electronics.
• Manufacturers predict 6.0% Dec rise but fear 7.2% Jan decline, hinting at uncertainty.
• Global downturn, rising prices, and Toyota’s Daihatsu halt pose challenges; Nov retail sales up 5.3%, a positive.

Japan, known for its export-driven economy, is grappling with a setback as factory output declined in November,…