Japan Gross Domestic Product Deflator (YoY) above expectations (3.1%) in 1Q: Actual (3.4%)

May 19, 2026

Japan’s GDP grows 0.5% QoQ in Q1 2026 vs 0.4% expected

The Japanese economy expanded 0.5% over the quarter in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, the preliminary report published by the Cabinet Office showed on Tuesday. This reading followed a 0.3% growth recorded in Q4 of 2025 and beat market expectations of a 0.4% expansion.

WTI declines below $102.00 after Trump says he called off Iran attacks

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $101.85 during the early Asian trading hours on Tuesday. The WTI price declines after US President Donald Trump said he was holding off a military attack on Iran planned for Tuesday at the request of Gulf states.