Japan economy grows faster than expected in first quarter
Japanese economic growth surpassed expectations at the start of 2026, official data showed on Tuesday, but Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is mulling an extra budget as concerns grow over inflation due to the Middle East war.
Gross domestic product (GDP) in the world's fourth-biggest economy expanded 0.5 percent in the first quarter, exceeding market forecasts of 0.4 percent.
Growth in private consumption and corporate investment contributed to the expansion, according to the cabinet office data.
It follows growth of 0.2 percent -- revised downwards from an earlier reading of 0.3 percent -- in the last quarter of 2025.
