As imports fell more than exports, net exports - or shipments minus imports - added 0.4 percentage point to GDP growth, the data showed. "There's no change to our view that the fundamentals supporting domestic demand remain solid," Motegi told reporters after the data's release. "In the second quarter, GDP could be zero or slightly negative because exports will remain weak. Weak domestic demand is likely to complicate the challenge for Japanese policymakers who are counting on firm domestic demand to offset external headwinds. External demand - or exports minus imports - added 0.4 percentage point to growth, the data showed, after it subtracted a 0.3 percentage point from GDP growth in the previous quarter.

Source: The Star May 20, 2019 01:10 UTC