Tokyo  - The Japanese economy grew more strongly than expected in the first quarter of 2008 after the government corrected its original annual growth figure for the world's second largest national economy from 3.3 per cent to 4.0 per cent.

Thanks to exports and consumer spending Japanese business grew 1.0 per cent as compared to the final quarter of 2007. However economists forecast a downturn in corporate earnings and consumer confidence in coming months due to increasing food prices. (dpa)