Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank for the second consecutive quarter, marking a technical recession in the world's third largest economy.

Gross domestic product (GDP) fell at annualised 1.6% from July to September, compared with forecasts of a 2.1% rise.

That followed a revised 7.3% contraction in the second quarter, which was the biggest fall since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Tokyo Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says, "ordinary people in Japan have stopped spending money".