Feb 15 Japan's economy contracted at an annualised rate of 1.4 percent in October-December, hurt by weak private consumption and housing investment, Cabinet Office data showed on Monday. The preliminary figure for gross domestic product compared with the median estimate of a 1.2 percent contraction in a Reuters poll of economists. It followed a revised 1.3 percent gain in July-September. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the economy shrank 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter. (full story)