Japan’s economy picks up on surge in capital spending

Japan’s first quarter growth handily beat initial estimates on an unexpected surge in capital spending, fresh signs the world’s third-biggest economy is in better shape to weather a hit to consumption from a sales tax hike.

Adding to the optimism, current account data showed foreign visitors spent more money than Japanese travelling abroad for the first time in 44 years, boding well for Japanese companies in the retail and tourism industry.

The positive figures underscore the Bank of Japan’s view the economy will recover moderately led by domestic demand, with growing evidence of an uptick in business investment a particularly pleasing result for policy makers.

Japan’s economy grew an annualised 6.7 per cent in the first quarter, data showed on Monday, up sharply from an initial reading of a 5.9 per cent rise, and confirmed the fastest pace of growth since July-September 2011. The data beat the median market forecast for GDP to rise 5.6 percent.

The upward revision was largely due to a recalculation in capital expenditure that took into account finance ministry data showing a solid increase in spending.

Corporate capital spending rose 7.6 per cent, up from a preliminary 4.9 per cent increase, an encouraging sign for prime minister Shinzo Abe who is keen for companies to spend more of their cash piles to drive a sustainable economic recovery.

On a quarterly basis, the economy grew 1.6 per cent in January-March, up from a preliminary 1.5 per cent expansion. It compared with a median market forecast for a 1.4 per cent rise.

Some analysts warn of uncertainty ahead as companies start to feel the pinch from an increase in the sales tax to 8 per cent from 5 per cent in April.

Moreover, analysts say weak factory output and household spending falling at the fastest pace in three years in April point to the tax hike’s chilling effect on consumer spending.

Still, there are signs the economy will overcome the temporary dips in growth.

Under its “qualitative and quantitative easing” programme launched in April last year, the BOJ has been aggressively pumping money into markets on hope that banks will lend more to companies, which will then boost wages and capital spending.

Bank lending rose 2.3 per cent in May from a year earlier, increasing for the 31st straight month and growing at a faster pace than 2.1 per cent in April, BOJ data showed on Monday.

There was little market reaction to the GDP data.

The BOJ has said Japan can weather the tax hike impact and resume a moderate recovery in July-September as exports - now a soft spot in the economy - gradually pick up.

Reflecting the continued weakness in exports, Japan posted its biggest trade deficit for the month of April, leading to a smaller-than-expected current account surplus, Ministry of Finance data showed on Monday.

But the current account data also showed that the travel balance swung to a surplus for the first time since 1970 as foreign visitors outnumbered Japanese travelling abroad.

Reuters