smoke rises from a factory during the sunset at keihin industrial zone in kawasaki japan january 16 2017 reuterstoru hanaifile photo tokyo may 27 reuters  japans factory output likely fell in april for the first time in three months as some manufacturers took a hit from strict covid19 lockdowns in shanghai and other industrial centres in china read more japanese industrial production likely dropped 02 in april from the prior month according to the median forecast in a poll of 18 economists that would mark the first decline since january and follow a 03 gain in march exports were quelled by chinas lockdown which likely affected japanese production especially in general and electrical machinery sectors that have higher export exposure to china said economists at smbc nikko securities automakers including toyota motor corp 7203t and mazda motor corp 7261t have also been forced to cut domestic production plans due to rigorous curbs to combat the coronavirus spread in china read more the effect of chinese anticovid controls creates another downside worry for japanese manufacturers this summer adding to existing supply bottlenecks and a rise in raw material costs analysts said the poll also showed april retail sales were likely 26 higher than a year earlier marking the second month to show an annual rise thanks to the full lifting of covid curbs in late march the industry ministry will release factory output and retail sales data on may 31 at 850 am may 30 at 2350 gmt japans unemployment rate was seen steady at 26 in april while the jobstoapplicants ratio likely rose 001 to 123 according to the poll jobs data are due on may 31 at 830 am may 30 at 2330 gmt