Japan’s economy unexpectedly contracted again in the October-December period, provisional government data showed Thursday, as high inflation crimped domestic demand and private consumption in the world’s third-largest economy. Provisional gross domestic product contracted 0.4% in the fourth quarter compared with a year ago, after contracting 2.9% in the July-September period. This was way below the median estimate for 1.4% growth in a Reuters poll among economists. The GDP deflator in the fourth quarter stood at 3.8% on an annualized basis. The world’s third-largest economy also contracted 0.1% in the fourth quarter ... (full story)