Japan's economy grows 1.6%

Revised data show Japan's economy recorded the biggest expansion in more than two years: 1.6% in the three months to March 2013.

Japan's economy recorded the biggest expansion in more than two years, with growth at 1.6%. (AAP)

Japan's economy grew 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2013 before a sales tax rise, posting the strongest expansion in more than two years, revised data shows.

The expansion was slightly faster than the initial estimate of 1.5 per cent growth.

The revised data confirmed the economy had staged the biggest expansion since a 2.6 per cent growth in the July-September quarter of 2011, when it was rebounding from the earthquake-tsunami disaster in March of that year.

The nation's cash registers rang up big sales in the January-March period ahead of the April 1 consumption tax rise from 5.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent.

Millions of shoppers scooped up everything from cars and refrigerators to televisions and alcohol in a buying spree.

But the rush of demand has dented activity in the following months.