Japan’s economy grew at an annualised rate of 6.7 per cent in the first quarter after preliminary data was upgraded, the government said on Monday.
The figure was upgraded from an annualised figure of 5.9 per cent for the January-to-March quarter announced in mid-May.
The world’s third-largest economy growth was boosted in the first quarter thanks to last-minute purchases before a sales tax increase in April, the government said.
The government raised the nation’s sales tax in April to 8 per cent from 5 per cent – the first hike in 17 years.
Quarter-on-quarter the Japanese economy grew 1.6 per cent, compared to the preliminary figure of 1.5 per cent.