TOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Japan’s core machinery orders rose 17.1% in October from the previous month, government data showed on Wednesday, in a bright sign for an economy that has seen firms cut capital expenditure as the COVID-19 crisis hit demand. The increase in core orders, a highly volatile data series regarded as an indicator of capital spending in the coming six to nine months, compared with a 2.8% rise forecast by economists in a Reuters poll, the Cabinet Office data showed. Compared with a year earlier, core orders, which exclude those for ships and electricity, rose 2.8% in October, versus an 11.3% drop seen by economists. To view the full table, go to the Cabinet Office website at: here (Reporting by Daniel Leussink Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)