Japan Hobbles Out of Recession With Growth Below Estimates

Japan’s economy expanded less than economists estimated in the fourth quarter, underlining the difficulty in stoking growth while export gains are undermined by weak investment and consumption at home.

Gross domestic product grew at an annualized 2.2 percent, less than a median forecast for a 3.7 percent increase. Nominal GDP, which is unadjusted for price changes, climbed an annualized 4.5 percent from the previous quarter.