TOKYO : Japan's economy is likely to grow at a slower pace than previously thought throughout the rest of the fiscal year, a Reuters poll showed, as growing risks of a global economic slowdown and supply woes torment Japanese exporters.
The economy was projected to expand an annualised 3.1 per cent this quarter, the median forecast of 36 economists in the July 4-15 poll showed, lower than 3.5 per cent estimated in a June survey. China's zero-coronavirus policy could also prolong supply bottlenecks for Japanese exporters, she said. Domestically, the economy was likely to continue benefiting from a recovery in household spending on pent-up demand for services such as travel following the lifting of coronavirus curbs in March.
The Japanese premier said on Thursday he has asked the industry minister to have up to nine nuclear reactors operational in the winter, when power consumption grows.