Japan's economy: in recession or not?

November 16, the Japan Cabinet Office (JCO) indicates, on a preliminary basis, that the country's real GDP diminished by 0.2%  during this year second and third quarters. Some economists and journalists conclude that the japanese economy is again in recession, because real GDP decreased for two consecutive quarters.

December 8, the JCO publishes its revised data on GDP. The slowdown in the second quarter is now estimated at 0.1%, and the decrease in the third is erased and replaced by an increase of 0.3%.

This makes obvious again the fragility and the weakness of seeing the occurrence of a recession by using uniquely the real GDP changes, especially when the variations are small and subject to revisions. 

OECD area: stable growth in the coming months

Leading economic indicators from the OECD point to stable growth in the coming months for the area as a whole. The increase in economic activity should be close to the trend. Canada, Japan and the euro zone are examples of economies where growth will be stable and close to trend according to data published December 8 by the OECD. But, there are signals of weakening growth for the United States and United Kingdom.

Details at:
http://www.oecd.org/std/leading-indicators/CLI-Dec15.pdf

The World Economy Improved in November, according to PMI Data

The world economy growth accelerated in November, according to the J.P. Morgan Global Manufacturing & Services PMI, published December 3 by Markit Economics. The increase in new orders is a positive signal for the economic activity in the coming months.

https://www.markiteconomics.com/Survey//PressRelease.mvc/5f068a9fea394b848e7b519e1f536d6f