TOKYO - The Japanese economy contracted an annualized real 3.5 percent in the three months period from July to September, according to government data released on Monday.

The figure for inflation-adjusted gross domestic product corresponded to a 0.9 percent drop from the previous quarter against the projected decrease of 1.0 percent. ?

In nominal terms, third-quarter GDP shrunk an annualized 3.6 percent, corresponding to 0.9 percent contraction from the previous three months.

Consumer spending fell a real 0.5 percent, while corporate capital spending declined 3.2 percent.