Japan's gross domestic product jumped by an annualized rate of 5.9 percent in the first quarter of 2014, the Cabinet Office said in Thursday's preliminary reading.
The growth was well above forecasts for an increase of 4.2 percent following the downwardly revised 0.3 percent gain in the previous three months (originally 0.7 percent).
On a non-annualized basis, GDP was up 1.5 percent - also topping expectations for an increase of 1.0 percent following the downwardly revised 0.1 percent gain in the fourth quarter (originally 0.2 percent).
Analysts say that the big jump in the economy was the result of dramatically higher consumer spending - particularly on big-ticket items - ahead of the higher consumption tax that took effect in April.
Nominal GDP gained 1.2 percent on quarter, beating forecasts for 1.0 percent following the 0.2 percent gain in Q4.
Capital spending jumped 4.9 percent on quarter - well above forecasts for 2.1 percent after gaining 1.4 percent in the previous three months.
Consumer spending climbed 2.1 percent on quarter - matching expectations and up from 0.4 percent in the three months prior.
The GDP deflator was flat on quarter versus forecasts for a fall of 0.1 percent after shedding a downwardly revised 0.4 percent in the three months prior (originally -0.3 percent).
Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that its index measuring tertiary industry activity in Japan was up a seasonally adjusted 2.4 percent on month in March, standing at 103.0.
That was in line with expectations following the upwardly revised 0.9 percent contraction in February (originally -1.0 percent).
Among the individual components, activity was up for retail sales, personal services, accommodations, real estate and communications.
Activity was down for financial services, scientific research, utilities and medical care.
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