The pace of Japanese production rose at a brisk clip during the month of October, giving policymakers hope - if not more mixed messages - about the strength of the Japanese economy.

10月份，日本生产增长速度突然提升，让决策者对日本经济的实力有了更多希望，或许也可以理解为释放了更多喜忧参半的信号。

Industrial production expanded 1.4 per cent month-on-month in October, the quickest pace since a 4.1 per cent rise in January. It was better than the 1.1 per cent gain in September, but still fell short of economists' expectations for a gain of 1.8 per cent.

10月份，日本工业产出环比增长1.4%，是自1月份出现4.1%的增幅以来增长最快的一次。这一数字高于9月份1.1%的增幅，不过仍低于经济学家1.8%的增长预期。

Despite the solid expansion, the yearly rate weakened to -1.4 per cent last month, from a -0.8 per cent pace in September. Economists expected production to have declined 0.9 per cent over the 12 months to October.

尽管增势坚挺，上个月年增长率还是从9月份的下跌0.8%，滑落至下跌1.4%。经济学家原本预计，在截至10月份的12个月里，日本工业产出下滑幅度为0.9%。

In its decision to not boost its monetary stimulus efforts, the Bank of Japan noted industrial production was one area where the economy was just puttering along. Certainly, there were other parts of the economy, such as the labour market, that were doing much better.

不过，日本央行(BoJ)仍决定不加大货币政策刺激力度。该行指出，工业产出是日本经济疲软的领域之一。当然，就业市场等日本经济的其他领域，表现要好得多。

While both numbers came in below forecast, they show how the BoJ has a tough decision on its hands, with respect to potentially ramping up its quantitative easing programme. The monthly numbers look good, the yearly ones not so much.

尽管两个数字都低于预期，它们还是显示出在加大量化宽松计划力度方面，日本央行正面临艰难的抉择。目前，环比数据看起来还不错，而同比数据则不太好。

Taken alongside data released in the past few days, and it doesn't make things easier. The country is still struggling with deflation and household spending slumped last month. But retail sales data released this morning topped estimates.

如果一并考虑过去几天里公布的数据，情况也不会变得更好。上个月，日本仍在与通缩和家庭开支下滑作斗争。不过，今天早上公布的零售业销售数据超出了人们的估计。