People walk down Takeshita Street in the popular Harajuku area of Tokyo on Sept 23, 2022. (RICHARD A. BROOKS / AFP)
TOKYO – Japan's economy, the world's third-largest, shrank less than initially estimated in the third quarter, bolstering a view that it is slowly recovering from COVID-19 doldrums even as major export markets show further signs of weakening.
Separate data showed the economy had recorded its first current account deficit in eight years in October, reflecting high import costs imposed on households and businesses by a decline in the yen's value to multi-decade lows this year.
The revision of the GDP was driven by upward change in private inventories and compared with a 4.5 percent annualized quarterly gain in the previous quarter
The revised 0.8 percent annualized quarterly contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) released by the Cabinet Office on Thursday compared with economists' median forecast for a 1.1 percent annualized decline in a Reuters poll and an early official estimate of a contraction of 1.2 percent.
The revision was driven by upward change in private inventories and compared with a 4.5 percent annualized quarterly gain in the previous quarter.
Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter as global recession risks, a weak yen and higher import costs hurt consumption and businesses.
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The economy may rebound in the current quarter due to easing of supply restrictions on semiconductors and cars, and lifting of COVID-19 border controls, boosting tourism, some analysts say.
Resumption of inbound tourism and campaigns to promote domestic travel will boost private consumption, helping the economy return to growth in the October-December quarter.
Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute
However, others are bracing for the global economy to tip into a recession next year, dealing a sharp blow to trade-reliant Asian exporters such as Japan.
"Resumption of inbound tourism and campaigns to promote domestic travel will boost private consumption, helping the economy return to growth in the October-December quarter," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.
"Going forward, a global slowdown led by rate hikes in advanced economies … will weigh on the Japanese economy, possibly causing a technical recession, or two straight quarters of contraction in the first half of next year."
Before annualizing, third-quarter GDP was down 0.2 percent on the previous quarter, compared with the initial contraction estimate of 0.3 percent. Analysts had expected a similar decline to the earlier reading.
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Among key sectors, private consumption, which makes up more than half of Japan's GDP, helped drive growth, though it was revised down. Capital expenditure and exports were the other main contributors to growth.
A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Japanese Yen/US Dollar conversion rate at a securities firm, Oct 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (EUGENE HOSHIKO / AP)
Among key sectors, private consumption, which makes up more than half of Japan's GDP, helped drive growth, though it was revised down. Capital expenditure and exports were the other main contributors to growth
However, a weak yen and hefty import bills, which boost the cost of living, more than offset GDP growth contributors.
Increasing costs of energy and other imports brought Japan a seasonally adjusted current account deficit of 609.3 billion yen ($4.45 billion) in October, Ministry of Finance data showed. It was the first shortfall since March 2014.
Before the seasonal adjustment, October's current account deficit stood at 64.1 billion yen, the first deficit since January.
The Bank of Japan's latest "tankan" report showed the mood of manufacturers had worsened in the three months to September, as stubbornly high material costs clouded the outlook for the fragile economy.
READ MORE: Sharp fall in yen weighs on Japan's economy
Manufacturers' outlook for further recovery remained flat, while service-sector firms saw conditions worsening, a Reuters monthly survey found on Wednesday.