By Tetsushi Kajimoto
TOKYO (Reuters) - Growth in Japan's factory output likely accelerated in January and core inflation hovered near five-year highs, a Reuters poll showed, underscoring the ongoing economic recovery despite fears that momentum may soon start to fade.
Retail sales probably increased while job conditions held firm, in a sign that an improving labor market and firm demand are driving private consumption, which accounts for 60 percent of the economy.
The slew of indicators, all due next Friday, come on the heels of data earlier this week that showed weaker-than-expected fourth quarter growth due to disappointing exports, capital spending and private consumption.
Weak readings could heighten market expectations that further stimulus will need to be rolled out by the government and the Bank of Japan, which remain upbeat on the economy despite worries about the potential blow from a planned sales tax hike in April and weak demand from emerging economies.
"The GDP data was disappointing but I expect positive readings from January data due to last-minute demand (before the tax increase kicks in)," said Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPMorgan Securities Japan.
"Still, risks are skewed to downside due mainly to weak external demand. If markets remain jittery, the BOJ could ease policy further preemptively in April when private consumption drops and signs of economic deterioration emerge."
A separate Reuters poll this week showed the BOJ is expected to ease policy further by this summer to help boost the economy as the effects from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stimulus strategy begin to wane.
Japan's industrial output, which closely correlates with economic cycle, rose 3.0 percent in January from the previous month, following a 0.9 percent gain in December, according to the median estimate of 29 economists in a Reuters poll.
That would be the fastest growth since last July as companies are expected to ramp up production of cars and non-durables to meet rising demand before the tax hike.
The spurt in demand probably helped boost retail sales by 3.8 percent in January from a year ago, which would mark a sixth straight month of annual gains, the Reuters poll showed.
Both output and retail sales data will be released by the trade ministry on Friday at 8:50 a.m. (2350 GMT Thursday).
INFLATION
The poll also showed Japan's core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes fresh food prices but includes oil products, rose 1.2 percent year-on-year in January, easing from 1.3 percent in December -- the fastest in more than five years.
The central bank maintained its massive monetary stimulus at this week's policy review, aiming to meet a 2 percent price goal around early 2015, which is seen by many analysts as a tall order.
Analysts expect that inflation will struggle to pick up pace in the coming months as effects of a weak yen on imported goods taper off and private consumption loses steam after the sales tax is raised from 5 percent to 8 percent in April.
Japan's jobless rate was probably unchanged at a six-year low of 3.7 percent in January.
Job availability as measured by the jobs-to-applicants ratio edged up to 1.04 from 1.03 in December, which would be the highest reading since August 2007, meaning more than one job is available per job seeker.
Japanese household spending rose 0.2 percent in the year to January, marking a fifth straight month of annual gains but slowing from 0.7 percent in December, the Reuters poll showed.
On a month-on-month basis, however, household spending likely rose 1.7 percent, after falling 0.7 percent in December.
The internal affairs ministry will issue CPI, jobless and household spending data on Friday at 8:30 a.m. (2330 GMT Thursday).
Land ministry data due on Friday at 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT) will likely show housing starts rose 15.0 percent in January from a year ago, up for the 17th month in a row, albeit at a slower pace than 18.0 percent in December, according to the poll.
(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Kim Coghill)