"Revised Data Shows Japan's Economy Grew 0.4%, Avoids Recession"

Japan's economy grew 0.4% in the fourth quarter, averting a technical recession, but the upward revisions were weaker than expected, with private consumption remaining weak. The Bank of Japan may consider normalizing interest rates amid signs of robust wage gains, and expectations are rising for a downgrade in the assessment of consumption and factory output at the next policy board meeting. Despite a jump in capital expenditure, high inflation has crimped domestic demand and private consumption, underscoring the fragility of growth in the country.