While illustrating the fifth straight month of recovery from the impact of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled supply chains and led to the shutdown of factories, the data missed expectations of a 1.5 percent gain. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that production "has almost recovered from the Great East Japan Earthquake" but warned that "it would be necessary to keep watch on future developments." Leading the gains were increases in automobile production, iron and steel and electronic parts and devices, the ministry said. However, according to producers polled by the government, production was expected to decrease 2.5 percent in September before rebounding 3.8 percent in October.