Japan’s economy stirs, briefly – in pictures

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  DatasGinza shopping district in Tokyo. Consumption in Japan rose 0.6 per cent in January to March. Franck Robichon/EPA

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  A man walks up an escalator in Tokyo. Japan's economy expanded at a slightly faster pace than first thought in the January to March period. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

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  The Oi container terminal in Tokyo. The government is due to propose US$93bn in extra stimulus in coming months. Franck Robichon/EPA

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  A bullet-train in Tokyo. Inflation remains far below the government's target of 2 per cent. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

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  Labourers work at a construction site for a new commercial building near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. A strengthening of the yen is eroding corporate profits for firms that work mostly overseas. Toru Hanai/Reuters

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  A construction site at Tokyo's bay area Ariake. "Relatively flat output compared to a year ago points to an economy which is not doing well," said the IG economist Bernard Aw. Kazuhiro Nogi/ AFP

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  Vehicles on a highway in Tokyo's bay area Ariake. The sluggish economy is expected to slow in the second quarter despite the better than anticipated first quarter, economists said. Kazuhior Nogi/AFP

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  People stand in front of an electronics store in Tokyo. Japan's sluggish economy has prompted the prime minister Shinzo Abe to delay a sales tax hike by more than two years. Toru Hanai/Reuters

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  Towers are reflected on the windows of an office building in Tokyo. A strong yen is hitting profits for Japanese companies who mainly operate overseas. Franck Robichon/EPA

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  A shop clerk holds a price banner at a bag shop in Tokyo. Underlying weakness means the Bank of Japan will probably expand its asset purchases further, analysts said. Eugene Hoshiko/AP

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  Workers construct a building in Tokyo. Japan has revised upward its estimate of growth in the first quarter of this year, thanks to smaller drop in business investment than reported earlier. Eugene Hoshiko/AP

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  People cross a concourse in Tokyo. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

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  Women look at restaurant advertisement boards in central Tokyo. A planned sales tax rise has been put on hold by the government, concerned at persistently low consumer spending. Toru Hanai/Reuters

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  An electronic stock quotation board in the window of a securities company in Tokyo. Policymakers are facing a number of headwinds, economists said. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

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  A shopper at a dry seafood shop in Tokyo. Japan has revised upward its estimate of growth in the first quarter of this year. Eugene Hoshiko/AP

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.