Japan’s Household Spending Up 0.9 Pct in 2025

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese household spending in 2025 rose 0.9 pct from the previous year after adjustment for inflation, marking the first increase in three years, Japan’s internal affairs ministry said Friday. The average monthly spending at households with two or more members stood at 314,001 yen. While consumers continued to be budget-minded, expenditures related to traveling increased, backed by the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, western Japan. The Engel’s coefficient, or the share of food in overall consumption spending, was 28.6 pct, the highest level since 1981. By category, spending on food dipped 1.2 pct, down for the sixth consecutive year. Affected by price hikes, expenditures on rice dropped 6.1 pct. Spending on bread dropped 4.9 pct, and that on confectionery fell 2.8 pct. Expenditures on education and entertainment rose 3.7 pct. Of the total, spending on cultural and entertainment services climbed 3.6 pct, with expenditures on domestic package tours and entrance fees for cultural facilities increasing thanks to the Osaka Expo. Utility bills rose 2.5 pct, up for the first time in two years. Spending climbed 4.6 pct on electricity and 1.0 pct on gas, as lower temperatures in the first half of the year and the heat that persisted from the rainy season into summer led to strong demand for heating and cooling. In December alone, the average household spending stood at 351,522 yen, down 2.6 pct from the same month last year in real terms. It was the first decrease in two months. Spending on food items fell 2.4 pct, reflecting consumers’ continued tendency to save money amid higher prices. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]