MNI BRIEF: Japan Q4 GDP To Rise 0.3% Q/Q; Annualised 0.9%
MNI (TOKYO) - Japan's economy is expected to have risen 0.3% q/q, or 0/9% annualised, in Q4 for the third straight quarter of growth, slowing from Q3's 0.3% q/q, or 1.2% annualised, in the wake of strong capital investment and the recovery of net exports, private economists predicted.
Net exports of goods and services are expected to have made a positive 0.5 percentage point contribution to the total domestic output, after falling 0.2 percentage points in Q3. Economists predicted private consumption, which accounts for about 60% of the GDP, has fallen 0.3% q/q following Q3's 0.7%.
Q4 capital investment is expected to have risen 1.0% q/q, reversing from Q3's 0.1% fall, while public investment is expected to have declined 0.2% q/q vs. -1.1% in th third quarter.
Economists expect the economy to grow slightly in Q1 due to solid capital investment but sluggish private consumption amid negative real wages will slow its pace.
The Cabinet Office will release preliminary GDP data for Q4 at 0850 JST on Monday, Feb 17 (2350 GMT on Sunday, February 16).