TOKYO — The Japanese government on Monday retained its assessment of the country's economy as recovering moderately despite some stalling, adopting the same view for the fourth straight month.

"The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, although it recently appears to be pausing," the Cabinet Office said in a monthly report for May.

Most of the assessments on key components of the economy were retained, from private consumption, business investment and exports, according to the report.

The government revised up its assessment on industrial production for the first time in 12 months, noting that the sector "shows signs of picking up recently," after saying industrial production "was on the way to picking up" in the April report.

The upward revision reflected the resumption of operations at some automobile factories following a data-rigging scandal in the auto sector that dragged on economic growth as well as a recovery of production at electronic parts factories damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day.

The government said moderate economic growth will continue, but warned of the negative effects of inflation, the conflict in the Middle East and developments in currency and other capital markets.

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