Japan Economy Expands at Slowest Pace Since May Amid Price Pressures

Japan's economy expanded at its slowest pace in four months in September as domestic demand weighed on activity, according to flash PMI data from S&P Global.

The flash composite output index fell to 52.5 from 53.5 in August, marking the 18th consecutive month of expansion but the slowest since May.

Manufacturing continued to lead, with the manufacturing PMI easing to 54.1 from 54.9 and factory output growth slipping to a three-month low.

New order growth slowed on softer domestic demand, while export order growth held at August's eight-and-a-half-year high, driven by manufacturing.

Price pressures remained intense, with input cost inflation easing to a four-month low but staying historically sharp.