Japan economy shrinks 0.8 percent in third quarter, back in recession

  • A woman looks at hair accessories displayed at an exhibition and sale during Tokyo Nail Expo 2015 in Tokyo, Japan, November 15, 2015. REUTERS/Yuya Shino
  • Shoppers look at various colors of manicure displayed at an exhibition and sale during Tokyo Nail Expo 2015 in Tokyo, Japan, November 15, 2015. REUTERS/Yuya Shino
  • A shop clerk adjusts a bottle of manicure displayed at an exhibition and sale during Tokyo Nail Expo 2015 in Tokyo, REUTERS/Yuya Shino
1 / 3

A woman looks at hair accessories displayed at an exhibition and sale during Tokyo Nail Expo 2015 in Tokyo

A woman looks at hair accessories displayed at an exhibition and sale during Tokyo Nail Expo 2015 in Tokyo, Japan, November 15, 2015. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economy slipped back into recession in the July-September quarter, contracting at a 0.8 percent annualised rate on weak domestic demand, government data showed on Monday. The preliminary figure for gross domestic product compared with the median estimate of a 0.2 percent contraction in a Reuters poll of economists. It followed a revised 0.7 percent fall in April-June, which was the first decline in three quarters. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy shrank 0.2 percent in the third quarter, the Cabinet Office data showed. For more background, see this PREVIEW To view the full tables, go to the Cabinet Office's website: http://www.esri.cao.go.jp/en/sna/sokuhou/sokuhou_top.html (Reporting by Leika Kihara, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Stanley White; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)

Latest stories

  • As Alexei Navalny is moved to hospital, a new approach to Russia is needed

    If the west is really not interested in pushing back at Russian aggression with equally bold moves, it should give up the pretence that it is serious about taming an increasingly feral Putin

  • The quiet making of our future queen

    It is arguably one of the best photographs ever to have been taken of the Duchess of Cambridge. Capturing not only the sombre mood of the occasion but also the steely determination of a family in mourning, Kate’s sorrowful green eyes stared straight down the lens as she was pictured arriving at Windsor Castle for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday. Taken by Getty photographer Chris Jackson, who is married to the Duchess’s stylist Natasha Archer, the extraordinary image revealed the steady yet serious gaze of a Royal whose decade in the monarchy has been characterised by quiet confidence and calm self-composure. Resplendent in the Queen’s pearls, even behind a black face mask, the 39-year-old mother of three managed to exude both style and substance as she was thrust back into the spotlight for her first major Royal event since that Oprah Winfrey interview. Despite having effectively been thrown under a bus by the Duchess of Sussex’s suggestion that she had made her cry during a bridesmaid’s dress fitting – and not the other way round – it was Kate who was the first in the 30-strong congregation to engage Prince Harry in polite conversation following the 3pm ceremony at St George’s Chapel. Having repeatedly looked over at her brother-in-law, seated opposite, during the 50-minute service while both William, 38, and Harry, 36, buried their heads in their orders of service, the woman once cruelly dubbed “Waity Katie” showed just how much she shares what Prince Philip once described as the Queen’s “abundance of tolerance”.

  • India Added To UK's Covid Travel 'Red List', Announces Matt Hancock

    The restrictions will come into force from Friday morning.

  • Mourning Queen to mark birthday without Philip for first time during reign

    The Queen is to mark the first birthday of her reign without her husband, as the royal family observes another week of mourning following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death. The Queen will turn 95 on Wednesday, four days after Philip’s funeral service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

  • ‘I don’t need lectures from you’, Keir Starmer tells anti-lockdown landlord sharing misinformation

    Pub owner tells Labour leader he has ‘failed to be the opposition’ on Covid-19

  • New images from 'Line Of Duty' hint at what happened to DI Kate Fleming

    Pictures from the new episode give hope to Vicky McClure fans.

  • SNP's plan to scrap NHS dental charges could see services cut

    The SNP’s plan to scrap charges for NHS dentistry could mean cuts to services and may see more patients forced to turn to the private sector for treatment, Anas Sarwar has warned. The Scottish Labour leader, who worked as an NHS dentist in Paisley before entering politics, said he supported the principle of free care but was concerned at a lack of detail announced by Nicola Sturgeon. A pledge to scrap dentistry charges, expected to cost £100 million a year initially, was one of a series of expensive giveaways included in the SNP manifesto last week. Mr Sarwar warned the policy could prove counterproductive if it was not implemented properly, and said the nationalists had a track record of failing to properly fund services. “The devil is in the detail,” said the Glasgow MSP. “What risks happening is, and this has happened too many times under this government already, is you reduce the number of treatments that are available on the NHS, meaning you're pushing more people to getting private treatments. "I think we need to see the detail of what this policy means in practice before we can make a wider comment on whether it is fit for purpose or not.

  • No man-to-man for Prince Charles and Harry as Duke heads back to US

    The Duke of Sussex will return to California without having a private meeting with his father, The Telegraph understands. Many family members had hoped the pair would take the opportunity to spend some time together alone, to air their differences face to face. But despite a 10,000-mile round trip, the Duke was either unable, or unwilling, to pin down the Prince of Wales, who is still coming to terms with the death of his father. While the Duke’s travel plans have not been disclosed, he is thought likely to return home to his pregnant wife, the Duchess of Sussex, 39, and their son Archie, who turns two next month, within the next day or two. The lack of any time spent with his father suggests that feelings over his Oprah Winfrey interview are still running high and the fallout remains raw.

  • Lady Louise – the close bond between the Queen, Prince Philip and their youngest granddaughter

    Over the past 10 days, as all eyes have been on Windsor following Prince Philip’s death, a sombre little face has cropped up again and again. Always in the background, poised and respectful, quietly allowing more senior members of the family to take centre stage, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor seemed to grow into a fully fledged member of the Firm in front of our eyes. She accompanied her parents everywhere last week, standing between them as they viewed floral tributes to her grandfather outside St George’s Chapel, attending a church service, going with them to meet members of the Windsor Estate staff to share memories and condolences and, on Saturday, watching on as her father, uncles and aunts and older cousins followed her beloved grandpa’s coffin.

  • BMW reveals new all-wheel-drive versions of the M3 and M4

    This is the first time BMW’s super saloon has had anything other than rear-wheel-drive.

  • Have your say: Should England's European Super League teams be expelled from the Premier League?

    Six English clubs have been condemned for joining the new European breakaway league.

  • Quiz: Can you match the joke to the famous comedian?

    Can you tell which famous gag-merchants were behind these hilarious jokes?

  • Surigae: Strong April typhoon lashes the Philippines

    One person died and thousands were displaced in storm-hit Philippines

  • The Duchess of Cambridge’s secret power comes down to one personality trait

    Among the heartache, grief and loss at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on Saturday there was an outstanding ray of positivity that it was impossible to ignore, and one that couldn’t have been more simple and more powerful. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stood tall and graceful. Her poise, elegance and quiet confidence reassured us that the monarchy is in good hands. She has often been described as selfless and resilient, but on Saturday it became clear that it is her positivity – a characteristic she has had all her life – that outranks all these other qualities and stands her in such good stead. Not only can Prince William count on her, but his rather confused brother and the wider Royal family can also be grateful they have such a positive influence in their midst. Joining the Royal family is far from easy, with its endless demands and lack of freedom. Catherine, now aged 39 and mother of three small children, quickly understood what her life would be and has been determined to make the very best of it. She accepted and understood what the country and the monarchy expected of her with elegance and dignity. Her beauty is not skin deep. Instead of complaining about her position, she has learnt to appreciate what it can offer to others. Watching her after the funeral was impressive. The royals were expected to follow the Queen and be driven from St George’s Chapel the short journey to Windsor Castle, but at the last minute they decided they would all walk back in the glorious sunshine.

  • Sinn Fein's apology over Lord Mountbatten murder is 'attempt to rewrite history', says ex-Army chief

    The former head of the Army has dismissed Sinn Fein’s apology over Lord Mountbatten’s murder as an "attempt to rewrite history". General Lord Richard Dannatt made his comments after Mary Lou McDonald, the president of Sinn Fein, apologised for the killing of the Duke of Edinburgh’s uncle, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979. However, Lord Dannatt, who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, said: "We all want to see continuing more peaceful times in Northern Ireland, and we want to see people increasingly being able to live side by side, but I think we also have to be aware that Sinn Fein is quietly trying to rewrite history." He added: "You can't get away from the fact that terrible things happened during the period of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. That is a fact. That is history. No one wants to dwell on the past, but I think we have to be very wary of Sinn Fein trying to rewrite history, and place that movement into a kinder light than it actually deserves." Ms McDonald, pictured below, who made her apology following Prince Philip’s funeral, said: “My job, and I think that Prince Charles and others would absolutely appreciate this, my job is to lead from the front, now, in these times.

  • Price of Covid PCR tests for travel could be slashed to under £50

    Treasury is considering exempting tests from VAT

  • European Super League: why punishing the breakaway 12 could backfire badly

    Everyone seems united against the new proposals, but can they really be stopped?

  • New Zealand says 'uncomfortable' with expanding Five Eyes

    New Zealand said it is "uncomfortable" with expanding the role of the Five Eyes, a post-war intelligence grouping which also includes the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada, recently criticised by China. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a speech that New Zealand sought a predictable diplomatic relationship. New Zealand will find it necessary to speak out on issues where it does not agree with China, including developments in Hong Kong and the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, she said in a speech on Monday to the government-funded New Zealand China Council.

  • Prince Harry ‘wants to stay in Britain for Queen’s 95th birthday and has not booked flight’

    Prince Harry has not booked his return flight to the United States but will return as soon as his pregnant wife Meghan needs him, a source close to the couple said today. The Duke of Sussex is believed to want to remain in Britain to mark the Queen’s 95th birthday this week if possible. Prince Philip’s funeral was the first time Prince Harry had met his relatives since the couple’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was broadcast last month.

  • Opposition parties push for inquiry into Boris Johnson’s ‘failure to be honest’

    Six parties write to Speaker and call for vote on holding probe into PM’s conduct