Japan economic recovery gains momentum, growing at 3.9 percent pace in Jan-March

In this Friday, March 27, 2015 photo, cranes stand in a construction site on the reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay area. Japan's economy grew at a faster pace than initially estimated in the January-March quarter, expanding at a 3.9 percent annual rate on stronger consumer and corporate spending. The revision announced Monday, June 8 by the Cabinet Office was sharply higher than the 2.4 percent pace initially reported. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) (The Associated Press)

Office workers walk on a pedestrian crossing during a lunch break in Tokyo Monday, June 8, 2015. Japan's economy grew at a faster pace than initially estimated in the January-March quarter on stronger consumer and corporate spending, though economists anticipate slower growth in April-June. The 3.9 percent annualized growth rate announced Monday by the Cabinet Office was sharply higher than the 2.4 percent pace initially reported. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi) (The Associated Press)

Office workers rest on benches during a lunch break in Tokyo Monday, June 8, 2015. Japan's economy grew at a faster pace than initially estimated in the January-March quarter on stronger consumer and corporate spending, though economists anticipate slower growth in April-June. The 3.9 percent annualized growth rate announced Monday by the Cabinet Office was sharply higher than the 2.4 percent pace initially reported. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) (The Associated Press)

Japan's economy grew at a faster pace than initially estimated in the January-March quarter, expanding at a 3.9 percent annual rate on stronger consumer and corporate spending.

The revision announced Monday by the Cabinet Office was sharply higher than the 2.4 percent pace initially reported. On a quarterly basis, the economy grew 1 percent, compared with the initial estimate of a 0.6 percent increase.

Strong private demand in residential and corporate spending helped push growth higher, with corporate investment revised to a 2.7 percent quarterly increase, from the 0.4 percent preliminary estimate.

The government has pointed to the stronger growth as a sign the recovery is gaining strength.

Rising inventories also contributed to the upward revision, however, and many economists have forecast that growth slowed in the current quarter on slowing consumer spending and industrial output.