日本第三季度經濟再次陷入衰退

Japan’s economy has fallen into recession again after it shrank 0.8% on an annualised basis in the third quarter.

日本第三季度GDP環比年率爲萎縮0.8%，經濟再次陷入衰退。

The preliminary data means the world’s third-largest economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, marking a technical recession.

初始數據顯示，世界第三大經濟體連續兩集經濟出現萎縮，重回技術性衰退。

Growth was expected to decline after it fell a revised 0.7% in the second quarter on weak domestic demand.

鑑於國內需求疲軟，預計日本經濟增長在二季度GDP修正爲0.7%之後會減少。

Japan has been in recession four times since the global financial crisis.

自全球金融危機以來，日本已經四度陷入衰退之中。

On a quarterly basis, growth fell 0.2% in the third quarter from the previous one, weaker than forecasts of a 0.1% decline.

按季度來看，第三季度較上一季度的增長下跌了0.2%，更甚於先前預測的0.1%。

The seasonally adjusted figure was also much lower than expectations of a 0.2% drop.

季度性調整數據也比預期更低，下降了0.2%。

Economists said the weak data will put more pressure on the government and central bank to continue to stimulate the economy.

經濟學家認爲疲軟的數據會給政府和央行帶來更大壓力，讓他們繼續刺激經濟。

However, Marcel Thieliant, economist at research firm Capital Economics, said policymakers have showed "considerable reluctance" to respond to weaker growth with more stimulus as inflation accelerates, and he does not expect more easing at the central’s meeting this week.

然而，來自凱投宏觀的經濟學家Marcel Thieliant表明，決策者表現出了“極大的猶豫不決”來應對虛弱的增長，並且在通脹加劇之際施加更多刺激措施。他並不認爲本週央行會議會帶來任何緩解。

"The upshot is that the Bank’s preferred inflation measure, which excludes prices of fresh food and energy, should start to moderate soon," he said in a note.

他寫道：“關鍵是央行應該放緩他們偏愛的通脹措施，應該節制對於生鮮食品以及能源的價格排擠。”

"We therefore remain convinced that more stimulus will eventually be needed, and now believe that the January meeting is the most likely venue for its announcement."

“因此我們仍然相信，最終仍需要更多的刺激，並且一月份的會議是最可能發佈此類聲明的契機。”

Japanese companies continue to be wary of using their record profits to raise wages and invest in the economy - a major challenge for Prime Minister’s Shinzo Abe’s "Abenomics" policies.

日本首相安倍晉三的“安倍經濟學”所面臨的一大挑戰是，日本公司仍然對運用其高利潤漲薪以及往本國經濟投資持謹慎態度。

Business spending fell 1.3%, against forecasts of a 0.4% decrease. It also marked the second quarter in a row of declines.

商業開銷下跌1.3%，與預測的0.4%跌幅不符。這個數據同樣也讓第二季度陷入了一連串的衰減。

But, private consumption, which accounts for 60% of the economy rose 0.5% from the previous quarter.

但是佔經濟總量60%的私有消費領域較上一季度上漲了0.5%。

Consumer spending has picked up from the hit it took last year from an increase in sales tax in April, which contributed to the recession in 2014.

消費者支出也因四月份上調的銷售稅而受到影響，是2014年衰退的部分原因。

Despite the declining growth, the government is positive that a recovery is underway.

儘管增長下降，政府仍然樂觀，認爲復甦就在眼前。

"While there are risks such as overseas developments, we expect the economy to head toward a moderate recovery thanks to the effect of various (stimulus) steps taken so far," economics minister Akira Amari said in a statement.

日本經濟部長甘利明在一份聲明中表示：“儘管仍然有海外發展這樣的風險存在，我們希望經濟會在多方面（刺激）下平穩復甦。”

But in reaction to the growth figures, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 1.1% to 19,372.98 points in early trade in Tokyo.

但是受增長數據影響，早晨東京日經指數225下跌1.1%至19372.92點。