Capital spending grew 9.6 percent in the July-September quarter on an all-industry basis to 12.56 trillion yen for the 10th straight quarter of expansion, the Finance Ministry said Monday.
Manufacturers spent 18.7 percent more on plants and equipment than they did a year earlier, up for the 10th consecutive quarter, while nonmanufacturers spent 5.0 percent more, up for the eighth such period in a row, the quarterly survey showed.
The latest findings back a government analysis that indicates the strong performance of the corporate sector is a leading factor behind the economic recovery, a ministry official said.