Japan’s 2nd quarter growth revised up

Japan’s 2nd quarter growth revised up

But analysts say US-led trade wars could be a major risk factor for an economy still struggling to win a long battle against deflation.

Office workers are reflected in a glass railing as they cross a street during lunch hour in Tokyo. (Reuters pic)
TOKYO:
Japan’s economy grew faster than initially thought in the April-June quarter thanks to strong corporate investment, official figures showed Monday.

The world’s third-biggest economy grew 0.7% quarter-on-quarter, up from the preliminary figure of 0.5%, the cabinet office said.

The latest figure – an annualised 3.0% – was in line with market expectations, confirming that Japan has bounced back to growth following its first contraction in two years.

The data represented a quick turnaround after a series of eight consecutive quarters of growth ended in January-March, interrupting a winning streak not seen since the heady days of Japan’s “miracle” boom of the 1980s.

But analysts have warned US-led trade wars could be a major risk factor for an economy still struggling to win a long battle against deflation.

The upward revision was chiefly due to stronger-than-previously-estimated corporate capital investment, Tokyo said.

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