The Japanese economy has shrunk after posting positive growth for three straight quarters.

Japan’s Cabinet Office said that Japan’s real gross domestic production dropped zero-point-nine percent quarter-on-quarter in the July-to-September period.

The Cabinet Office attributed the economic contraction to sluggish domestic consumption and a decrease in exports, explaining that individual consumption fell zero-point-five percent, exports dropped five percent and investment in facilities declined three-point-two percent.

The office lowered its outlook for Japan’s economy on November sixth, declaring that the Japanese economy entered a downward state for the first time in 16 months since May 2011.