The Japanese economy advanced 0.6% quarter-on-quarter in the March quarter 2018, stronger than the preliminary estimate of a 0.5% expansion and after an upwardly revised 0.5% growth in the fourth quarter. It marked the second straight quarter of expansion and the fastest since the second quarter 2018, as net exports contributed positively to the growth for the first time in four quarters, while there was a substantial upward revision to capital expenditure. On an annualized basis, the economy grew 2.2% in the first quarter, better than the preliminary figure of a 2.1% advance and following an upwardly revised 1.8% advance in the previous quarter. This was the highest annualized figure in three quarters.
