Japan eked out modest growth in the second quarter despite painful US tariffs, official data showed Friday, in welcome news to embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

A preliminary estimate showed gross domestic product (GDP) in the world’s number four economy growing 0.3 percent in the three months to June, above market forecasts of 0.1 percent.

The cabinet office data also saw a revision upwards for its reading for the previous quarter to show an expansion of 0.1 percent.

On an annualised basis, GDP grew 1.0 percent, beating market forecasts of 0.4 percent and following 0.6 percent in the last quarter.

The previous estimate was for a contraction and, without the revision, a second negative reading would have put Japan in technical recession.

The new figures are a fillip for Ishiba,

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