FACTBOX-Growth rates in G7 countries

Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:54am EDT

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Japan's economy returned to growth in the second quarter, pulling out of its longest recession since World War Two, but analysts warned of a rocky road ahead as the nascent recovery was based on short-term stimulus efforts around the world.

Japan's gross domestic product grew 0.9 percent in April-June. It compared with a 0.3 percent contraction in the United States in the same quarter. The euro zone economy shrank 0.1 percent after a 2.5 percent fall in the first three months.

Germany and France achieved a shock return to economic growth in the second quarter of the year, ending their recessions earlier than many policymakers and economists expected.

Following is a table comparing GDP growth rates in G-7 countries in the first and second quarters of the year:


COUNTRY Q1 Q2

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BRITAIN -2.4 percent -0.8 percent

CANADA -5.4 percent

FRANCE -1.3 percent 0.3 percent

GERMANY -3.5 percent 0.3 percent

ITALY -2.7 percent -0.5 percent

JAPAN -3.1 percent 0.9 percent

UNITED STATES -6.1 percent -0.3 percent

--------------------------------------------------- (Writing by Jijo Jacob, Bangalore Editorial Reference Unit: Editing by David Cutler/Toby Chopra);