JAPAN

Quake Hurt Nation’s Vehicle Output: “In January, domestic production fell by about 40,000 because of the earthquake. But it is expected to post a year-on-year gain next month as car makers are trying to make up the loss in February and March,” a Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. official said. The decline, the first in four months, was 1.4% from a year earlier, to 761,892. The quake forced some car parts suppliers to suspend production, resulting in parts shortages for car makers. The Daihatsu Motor Co. car plant was also damaged.