Japan March industrial output down 2.1 percent month on month

The result compared with the median estimate of a 0.8 percent decline in a Reuters poll of economists. It followed a revised 3.2 percent increase in February, the data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.

Manufacturers surveyed by the ministry expect output to rise 8.9 percent in April and fall 3.7 percent in May.

For background, please see this PREVIEW

For the full tables on METI's website:

http://www.meti.go.jp/english/statistics/tyo/iip/index.html

(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Chris Gallagher)