Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese household spending in September fell 6.8 pct from a year earlier in inflation-adjusted real terms, marking the 10th consecutive month of decline, the internal affairs ministry said Tuesday. The average spending by households with two or more members stood at 289,536 yen, posting the largest fall since September 2020, when the average plunged 10.2 pct. The latest result reflected lower spending on a wide range of items due to unfavorable weather conditions, including typhoons and heavy rains. Expenditures on food shrank 2.5 pct, down for the fourth straight month. Within the category, spending on beverages such as tea decreased 12.7 pct, and that on rice, whose price is on a downward trend, dropped 23.7 pct. Electricity bills fell 11.9 pct as relatively cool weather reduced power demand. Expenditures on household durable goods, including air conditioners, declined 12.0 pct, and spending on Western clothes fell 4.9 pct. The impact of inflation on consumer spending remained apparent, with spending on housework-related consumable goods, such as plastic bags and wraps, falling 7.5 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
