The Japanese economy grew at an annual rate of 1.0 per cent in the October-December period, little changed from a growth rate of 1.1 per cent in the prior quarter, the government reported on Monday.
The reading on GDP was far below growth of 2.6 per cent predicted by a poll of economists by the Kyodo News Agency .
Consumer spending – which accounts for about 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) – edged up 0.5 per cent quarter-on-quarter.
Corporate investment rose 1.3 per cent in the period, compared with a 0.2-per-cent rise in the previous quarter, the Cabinet Office said.