The Economic Planning Agency (EPA) has admitted that although corporate spending is improving, consumer demand remains weak.

BBC: Japan's consumers are still worried

Tokyo's Economic Planning Agency is projecting fiscal 1999 growth of 0.5%, resisting pressure from the powerful Ministry of International Trade and Industry for a higher forecast.

CNN: THE LONG, HARD CLIMB BACK UP

Unveiling the GDP figures, the Economic Planning Agency (EPA) said public demand jumped 6.0% in the quarter, thanks largely to stimulus packages enacted by the government last year.

CNN: JAPAN'S BLIP FAILS TO STICK

The National Development and Reform Commission, the top economic planning agency, is in charge of long-maturity bonds typically issued by major state-run enterprises, while the securities regulator runs a separate exchange-based bond market for listed firms.

WSJ: China Tightens Rules on Bond Issuance

Economic development agency Invest NI cannot spend its current budget and is planning to give millions back to the Department of Finance at Stormont.

BBC: Invest Northern Ireland set to return millions of pounds