TOKYO — Japan’s economy expanded 1.0 per cent in 2016 as a bump in exports and capital investment offset weak spending at home, data showed on Monday, although it was unlikely to erase concerns about Tokyo’s faltering war on deflation. The gross domestic product (GDP) data showed four consecutive quarters of growth -- the longest expansion since 2013 -- but the annual figure was lower than the 1.2 per cent growth registered in 2015, according to the Cabinet Office. Government spending measures and a drop in the yen were key growth drivers, even as Japanese consumers kept a tight lid on spending. During the fourth quarter, Japan’s exports grew 2.6 per cent, building on an expansion in the previous three months. Businesses appeared to be feeling more confident as capital spending grew 0.9 per cent, reversing a decline in the previous quarter.

Source: Viet Nam News February 13, 2017 05:04 UTC