The Japanese economy has suffered an unprecedented downturn due to the measures introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Kyodo agency reported.

Thus, from April to June this year, the real decline in the country's GDP reached -7.8% compared to the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted, and on an annualized basis, the decline was -27.8%.

Negative GDP growth has been observed for the third quarter in a row. The government of Japan considers the current recession to be the largest since 1955, Gazeta noted.

On April 7, an emergency was introduced in Tokyo and six other prefectures, citizens were obliged to stay at home, and further restrictions affected the entire territory of Japan. At the end of May, the Japanese authorities gradually began to weaken the measures that hit business activity in the country.

Thus, consumer spending in the country decreased by 8.2% compared to the previous quarter. Exports of goods and services, including income from foreign tourists, decreased by 18.5%, and in annual terms, this is - 56%.