The nation's economy spurted forward in the July-September quarter, growing 0.7 percent from the previous quarter, the Cabinet Office said Wednesday.

But the gains came with data that show slowing overseas demand, confirming fears that the nation's export-driven economy is already out of breath -- less than a year after emerging from its last recession.

The nation's real gross domestic product -- the total value of goods and services within a country's borders -- grew for the third consecutive quarter, expanding at an annualized rate of 3 percent. The growth was due to firm consumer spending, which offset drops in business spending and external demand.