TOKYO, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Japan's economy shrank 0.1 percent

in October-December from the previous quarter, falling for a

third straight quarter, government data showed on Thursday, in a

sign the nation is struggling to escape from a mild recession.

The decline compared with a 0.1 percent expansion that was

forecast by economists, and followed a revised 1.0 percent

contraction in July-September.

Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) figure translated into

an annualised decline of 0.4 percent, compared with a median

forecast from economists of a 0.5 percent rise and a 0.1 percent

fall in the United States in the same quarter.

'Japan's economy may show some weakness for the time being.

But it is likely to resume a moderate recovery thereafter due to

the Bank of Japan's monetary easing, the effect of an emergency

economic package, as well as an expected moderate recovery in

the global economy,' Economics Minister Akira Amari said in a

statement.

To view the full tables, go to the Cabinet Office's website

http://www.esri.cao.go.jp/en/sna/sokuhou/sokuhou_top.html

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko, Leika Kihara and Chris Gallagher;

Editing by Edmund Klamann and John Mair)

((kaori.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com)(Reuters

Messaging:)(kaori.kaneko.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)(+81-3-6

441-1983))

Keywords: JAPAN ECONOMY/GDP

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