The economy grew an annualized real 4.6 percent in the October-December quarter for the third consecutive quarter of expansion as corporate capital investment revived amid a recovery in exports while consumer spending continued to perk up on stimulus measures, the government said Monday.
The Cabinet Office also said nominal GDP stood at $5.08 trillion in 2009, narrowly surpassing that of China's $4.91 trillion. However, the data suggest the Japanese economy will be surpassed by China's in the near future, possibly this year, it said.
The expansion marked in the three-month period corresponds to a 1.1 percent rise from the July-September quarter, the Cabinet Office said. It compares with a revised 0.01 percent gain in the previous quarter.