People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus walk on a street in Tokyo on Aug. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's core private-sector machinery orders fell 1.5 percent in June from the previous month for the first decline in four months, government data showed Wednesday.

       The orders, which exclude those for ships and from electricity utilities due to their volatility, totaled 852.4 billion yen ($7.8 billion), according to the Cabinet Office.

       Machinery orders are seen as a leading indicator of corporate capital spending.

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