The economy will grow 1.4 percent in fiscal 2014 on the back of healthy domestic demand amid inflation of 1.2 percent, excluding the effects of the consumption tax hike in April, the government forecast Saturday.

The projection in real terms compares with estimated growth of 2.6 percent in the current fiscal year, indicating the economy will stay on a recovery path despite fears that the hike in the national sales tax to 8 percent from 5 percent April 1 will stifle consumer spending and investment.

The government's inflation projection signals a possible end to nearly two decades of deflation under the Bank of Japan's ultra-easy monetary policy.