Japan GDP unexpectedly shrinks, loses spot as 3rd-largest economy
TOKYO -- Japan's gross domestic product unexpectedly shrank for a second straight quarter, confirming that the nation's economy has now slipped behind Germany to become the world's fourth largest.
Japan, Asia's second-biggest economy, contracted an annualized 0.4% in the October to December quarter from the previous three months, following a revised 3.3% fall in the July to September period.