2020.02.1623:45:00UTC+00Japan GDP Falls 6.3% On Year In Q4

Japan's gross domestic product was down an annualized 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, the Cabinet Office said in Monday's preliminary report.

That was well shy of expectations for a decline 3.8 percent following the 0.5 percent increase in the three months prior.

On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, GDP sank 1.6 percent - again missing forecasts for a decline of 1.0 percent following the 0.1 percent gain in the third quarter.

Nominal GDP was down 1.2 percent on quarter, missing expectations for a drop of 0.6 percent after gaining 0.6 percent in the previous three months.

The GDP deflator was up 1.3 percent on year in Q4, the Cabinet Office said - exceeding expectations for an increase of 1.1 percent and up from 0.6 percent in the three months prior.

Business spending skidded 3.7 percent on quarter, missing forecasts for a decline of 1.6 percent following the 0.5 percent increase in the third quarter.

Private consumption sank 2.9 percent on quarter, missing forecasts for a drop of 2.0 percent following the 0.5 percent gain in the previous three months.