Japanese economy grows 1.4 percent

TOKYO -- Japan's economy grew 1.4 percent in the first quarter, springing back from three straight quarters of contraction, the government said today.

The Cabinet Office said gross domestic product, which measures the total output of goods and services produced in the nation, grew at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the three months through March. A big push in growth came from exports, which climbed 6.4 percent, on the back of recovery in the United States and the rest of Asia.

Household consumption rose 1.6 percent, while public investment increased 4.1 percent.

Japan has stagnated in a slowdown for more than 10 years, hobbled by an antiquated economic system that has failed to encourage ventures, streamline inefficient regulations and wrest the nation from a dependence on exports.