Japan's economy expanded 1.3 per cent in the final quarter of last year, revised data released today showed.
The world's second-largest economy grew 1.3 per cent in real, price-adjusted terms in October-December from the previous quarter, matching a consensus forecast and compared with a preliminary reading of a 1.2 per cent expansion.
It was the fastest growth in three years and the eighth straight quarter of expansion.
But separate government data showed that year-on-year growth in wholesale prices slowed in February for the fifth straight month, signalling that Japan is emerging from deflation only at a very slow pace.
The results are unlikely to change the dominant market view that the Bank of Japan, which holds a two-day policy meeting on March 19th-20th, will go slow on future rate rises.
Financial markets showed little reaction to the data, although the yen edged up to 118.15 to the dollar from near 118.35 before the data release.