Japan's economy grew less briskly than initially estimated in the first three months of 2005.
Revised data today showed GDP grew a real, or price-adjusted, 1.2 per cent in the January-March quarter, slower than a preliminary reading of 1.3 per cent growth and economists' consensus forecast for a 1.4 per cent rise.
The spurt in January-March after three quarters of nearly no growth came mainly from a rise in inventories and from pent-up consumer demand due to natural disasters and poor weather late last year.
But economists expect the economy to stand still for some time, as exports are unlikely to grow much with markets like China slowing down and as corporate activity drops in response.
Other data today showed industrial production rose 1.9 per cent in April from a month earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, revised down from a initial 2.2 per cent rise.
