Japan's economy grows 4.1 pct amid recovery

While Europe’s financial crisis continues India grew GDP by 8.6% in the first 3 months of 2010. China continues to grow quickly as do many emerging countries, including Brazil. India’s Q4 GDP grows at 8.6% y-o-y

WASHINGTON — A survey shows U.S. manufacturing activity expanded more slowly in March than February, held back by weaker growth in production and new orders. But factories hired at the fastest pace in nine months, an encouraging sign ahead of Friday’s report on March employment. The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index of factory activity slipped to 51.3 percent. The index fell from 54.2 percent in February, which was the fastest growth since June 2011. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The index has signaled growth for four straight months.

WASHINGTON — A survey shows U.S. manufacturing activity expanded more slowly in March than February, held back by weaker growth in production and new orders. But factories hired at the fastest pace in nine months, an encouraging sign ahead of Friday’s report on March employment. The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its index of factory activity slipped to 51.3 percent. The index fell from 54.2 percent in February, which was the fastest growth since June 2011. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The index has signaled growth for four straight months.

Rick Newman submits:It's obviously a humanitarian disaster, with thousands dead, many more homeless, whole cities demolished, and Japan reeling after sustaining its worst earthquake ever. It's also a major economic disruption that comes amidst instability in the Middle East, spiking oil prices, fears of global inflation, prolonged damage from the 2008 financial crisis, and deepening worries over whether a fledgling global recovery will continue or stall.

On the heels of the Japanese economy shrinking at 12.7% rate 2 quarters ago, the Japanese economy grew at a 3.7% annual rate in the second quarter. Japan is the 2nd largest economy (after the USA). Japan’s economy leaves recession:

(WASHINGTON) — The weakest quarter for the U.S. economy in nearly two years may end up being a temporary lull. Economists think growth has begun to pick up on the strength of a sustained housing recovery and a better job market. The economy grew at an annual rate of just 0.1 percent from October from December, a government report Thursday showed. That’s only slightly better than the Commerce Department’s previous estimate that the economy shrank at a rate of 0.1 percent. And it’s down from the 3.1 percent annual growth rate in the July-September quarter.

(WASHINGTON) — The weakest quarter for the U.S. economy in nearly two years may end up being a temporary lull. Economists think growth has begun to pick up on the strength of a sustained housing recovery and a better job market. The economy grew at an annual rate of just 0.1 percent from October from December, a government report Thursday showed. That’s only slightly better than the Commerce Department’s previous estimate that the economy shrank at a rate of 0.1 percent. And it’s down from the 3.1 percent annual growth rate in the July-September quarter.

Japan on Friday said its economy grew by 1.2 percent in the January to March quarter from the previous three months, revising upward a preliminary figure of 1.0% growth.The latest data underscore a recovery driven largely by government spending and recovering domestic demand after Japan was battered by last year's quake-tsunami disaster.On an annualised basis, the economy grew a revised 4.7 percent in the quarter, higher than a preliminary 4.1 percent rise, according to figures from the Cabinet Office.