According to preliminary data released by the Cabinet Office, Japan's real gross domestic product in the January to March 2011 quarter contracted 0.9% QoQ.

This translates into an annualized 3.7% shrinkage, and marks the second straight quarter of negative growth.

Supply chain disruptions stemming from the Great East Japan Earthquake caused capital spending to drop for the first time in six quarters.

Personal consumption also dwindled as people refrained from spending in the wake of the disaster.

(Sourced from Nikkei)