Japan's economy sinks into contraction as spending, investment decline

November 15, 2023--Japan's economy contracted at a 2.1% annual pace in July-September as consumption and investment weakened, the government said Wednesday.
Weak wage growth in the world's third-largest economy also sapped its vitality, the Cabinet Office said. In quarterly terms, the economy contracted by 0.5%.

The numbers were unexpectedly weak. Private consumption shrank an annualized 0.2%. Corporate investment decreased 2.5%. With investment and demand weakening in other major economies, "we expect GDP growth to slow from 1.7% this year to 0.5% in 2024," said Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics.