17 August 2026 | 11:49AM JST Economics Research Japan: Preliminary Q2 Real GDP +1.1% QoQ Annualized, Below Market Forecast BOTTOM LINE: The first estimate of Q2 real GDP growth came in at +1.1% qoq annualized, maintaining positive growth for the third consecutive quarter, but it fell below the market forecast of +2.0%. Private consumption and capex declined, highlighting the weakness of private sector domestic demand. On the other hand, external demand made a large positive contribution due to a modest incr ...