Japan's economic growth probably accelerated, led by exports

Japan’s economic growth probably accelerated last quarter as a global trade revival fueled demand for exports, economists said before a report today.

Gross domestic product rose an annualized 3.5 per cent in the three months ended December 31, the fastest pace since the first quarter of 2008, according to the median estimate of 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Cabinet Office is scheduled to release the report at 8:50 am in Tokyo.

Nissan Motor Co and Canon Inc are among companies benefiting from resurgent global demand as countries poured more than $2 trillion into their economies to spur growth. The export rebound may be too weak to shore up spending at home, where wages are tumbling and consumer outlays have been propped up by government incentives that are starting to wear off.