By Dow Jones Business News, August 12, 2014, 08:35:00 PM EDT

TOKYO--Japan's economy contracted sharply in the second quarter after a sales-tax increase in April sent household spending tumbling, which economists said could pressure the government to take additional stimulus measures.

Real gross domestic product, the total value of all goods and services produced in the economy, shrank 6.8% in the three months through June on an annualized basis from the prior quarter.

That was slightly less than a 7.1% contraction forecast by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, but economists said a larger-than-expected drop in private consumption and a sharp increase in inventories raised concerns about the resilience of Japan's economic recovery.

A fallback in economic output was expected after the nation's sales tax rose to 8% from 5% on April 1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other policy makers have said they expect the downturn to be short-lived.

If that forecast proves too rosy, the government might have to compile more economic-stimulus measures and reconsider plans to raise the sales tax further to 10% in October 2015, economists said.

Investors should watch out for a risk that the domestic economy stays sluggish for longer than expected, said Yasunari Ueno, chief market economist at Mizuho Securities.

"The next focal point is how much the economy will rebound in the July-September period. If the upward pressure is weak, it will likely increase the chance that Prime Minister Abe decides in December to delay the next sales-tax hike," Mr. Ueno said.

The economy expanded 6.1% in the first quarter, as households stocked up on big-ticket items such as washing machines before the sales tax rose.

Government officials were more sanguine about Wednesday's data. Economy Minister Akira Amari said the figure didn't change the government's outlook that the economy continues to improve steadily. He said the government would respond flexibly on the economy but added that he didn't currently see a need to compile an additional budget.

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Japan's Economy Contracts in 2nd Quarter

By Dow Jones Business News, August 12, 2014, 08:35:00 PM EDT

TOKYO--Japan's economy contracted sharply in the second quarter after a sales-tax increase in April sent household spending tumbling, which economists said could pressure the government to take additional stimulus measures.

Real gross domestic product, the total value of all goods and services produced in the economy, shrank 6.8% in the three months through June on an annualized basis from the prior quarter.

That was slightly less than a 7.1% contraction forecast by economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal, but economists said a larger-than-expected drop in private consumption and a sharp increase in inventories raised concerns about the resilience of Japan's economic recovery.

A fallback in economic output was expected after the nation's sales tax rose to 8% from 5% on April 1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other policy makers have said they expect the downturn to be short-lived.

If that forecast proves too rosy, the government might have to compile more economic-stimulus measures and reconsider plans to raise the sales tax further to 10% in October 2015, economists said.

Investors should watch out for a risk that the domestic economy stays sluggish for longer than expected, said Yasunari Ueno, chief market economist at Mizuho Securities.

"The next focal point is how much the economy will rebound in the July-September period. If the upward pressure is weak, it will likely increase the chance that Prime Minister Abe decides in December to delay the next sales-tax hike," Mr. Ueno said.

The economy expanded 6.1% in the first quarter, as households stocked up on big-ticket items such as washing machines before the sales tax rose.

Government officials were more sanguine about Wednesday's data. Economy Minister Akira Amari said the figure didn't change the government's outlook that the economy continues to improve steadily. He said the government would respond flexibly on the economy but added that he didn't currently see a need to compile an additional budget.

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Japan's Economy Contracts Sharply

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As the PC market continues to decline, Arm is proving that non x86 chips are cool and have a long and prosperous future.

Intel has said it is watching closely its "biggest competitor", the semi-conductor firm Arm, which holds almost 95% of the burgeoning smartphone segment.

Dylan Larson, director for Intels Xeon product marketing, made the comments during a workshop in Intel's Hillsboro campus in Oregon.

There have been speculations that Apple could replace Intel chips with those made around Arm architecture in its Mac devices from 2016 onwards.

The company already uses Arm architecture in its processors for iPhones and iPads. Intel has been used in Apples Mac devices since 2006.

The rumours were sparked by a blog from former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassee in which he said: When Apple announced its 64-bit A7 processor, I dismissed the speculation that this could lead to a switch away from Intel chips for the Macintosh line for a homegrown 'desktop-class' chip. I might have been wrong."

It is estimated that Arm-based chips are found in every six of ten mobile devices in the world.

Arm technology is often cheaper and more power efficient. While Arm dominates the smartphone and mobile device market share, it holds only 5% of the server, personal computing and high-performance computing market that Intel dominates.

Intel could face tougher challenges from Arm as the PC market continues to diminish, analysts said.

Intel became complacent when AMD stopped innovating and acting as competition, said Nebojsa Novakovic, a Singapore-based consultant at Computational Resource Centre.

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Intel watches Arm as low-powered computing thrives

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MORRISON Anyone who needs a power washer now has a place to go.

Pressure Washing Unlimited, 100 W. Main St., opened its doors in March.

It sells power washers, power hoses, generators, accessories, chemicals and service repairs.

We dont do the services in Morrison; we just have the products, owner Nicole Mioletti said. We are slowly trying to move the business from Chicago.

Mioletti, 25, said the business is in the process of moving to Morrison because of the local industry, and because she has family in the area.

Her father, Edward, began running the business in 1992. When he fell ill, Mioletti took over the business in 2009.

Products can be ordered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, go to pw-unlimited.net or call 815-772-0110 or 773-392-1500.

Pub n Grub now serving in Tampico

TAMPICO Old Town Pub n Grub,124 S. Main St., opened its doors in June.

Among other items, the restaurant offers burgers, fish, meatloaf, tacos and a salad bar.

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Business Notebook: A wash in Morrison, meal in Tampico

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Colonel Smith Middle School sixth graders and their teachers pose for a first day of school photo. (Courtesy of Andrea Weigle)

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Cochise Collegeoffersfree

newstudentssessions

Cochise College offers free New Student Orientation sessions prior to each fall semester. Orientation gives new college students a chance to learn about academic programs and services offered at Cochise. Sessions are offered on the Sierra Vista Campus from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 14 or 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 22, and on the Douglas Campus from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 15 or 9 to 11 a.m.Aug.22.

For information or to sign up for orientation, visit http://www.cochise.edu/orientation, or call 515-3609 in Sierra Vista or (520) 417-4044inDouglas.

American Legion Stuff the Bus event in Tombstone and Huachuca CityonSaturday

The American Legion Auxiliary Unity 24 of Tombstone will be sponsoring a Stuff the Bus event for schools in the Tombstone district includingHuachucaCity.

The goal is to collect as many school supplies as possible for students who attend school in the TombstoneUSD.

The event will be Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. with drop-off locations at Fountain Plaza, 203 North Huachuca Blvd. in Huachuca City, and American Legion Post 24, 225 E Allen StreetinTombstone.

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