TOKYO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Japan’s core machinery orders were flat in September from the previous month, government data showed on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected core orders, a highly volatile data series regarded as an indicator of capital spending in the coming six to nine months, to rise 1.8%. Manufacturers expect core orders will rise 3.1% in October-December, after advancing 0.7% in the previous quarter, the Cabinet Office data showed. Compared with a year earlier, core orders, which exclude those for ships and electricity, rose 12.5% in September, versus a 17.4% increase seen by economists. To view the full table, click on the Cabinet Office website: here Reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama; Writing by Daniel Leussink Editing by Chang-Ran Kim