Fast FT are quick off the market with some points on the Q1 Japanese GDP data:

  • The effects of last year's rise in the sales tax appear to be waning, with spending habits above forecasts... Personal consumption rose 0.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter, versus predictions at 0.2 per cent
  • Business spending failed to impress

Data post is here: Japan preliminary Q1 GDP: +0.6% q/q (vs. +0.4% expected)

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More (not from FastFT):

  • Note ... there was a jump in inventory build-up .... there was a 0.5% boost in the data from inventory buil
  • Net exports contributed -0.2%