Domestic demand nudged the economy forward in the July to September quarter, tallying 0.4 percent growth in real terms, for an annualized rate of 1.7 percent, the Cabinet Office said Friday.
Gross domestic product rose for the fourth straight quarter, although the pace of growth slowed from a rise of 0.8 percent in the previous quarter.
The slower pace was mainly due to a 3.9 percent surge in imports, which outweighed the 2.7 percent growth in exports.