Japan’s economy grew at a slower than expected 0.5 percent annual pace in the October-December quarter, as strong exports failed to fully compensate for relatively weak domestic demand. The preliminary data released Wednesday show Japan has managed eighth straight quarters of growth, the longest expansion since the financial bubble of the late 1980s. But the figures were well below analysts’ forecasts of 0.9 percent annual growth or higher. Growth in the previous quarter was revised down to 2.2 percent from 2.5 percent. Housing investment weakened although overall consumer spending, which accounts for the lion’s ... (full story)