Japan’s economy stirs, briefly – in pictures

Japan’s economy expanded at a 1.9 per cent annual pace in January-March, helped by sustained consumer demand, according to revised data issued Wednesday. The government earlier estimated the world’s third-largest economy grew at annualised rate of 1.7 per cent. The latest data showed private consumption, the biggest contributor to growth, rose 0.6 per cent in January-March, compared with an earlier estimate of 0.5 per cent. However, despite saying the improvement is positive, economists expect the economy to slow in the current quarter.