Japan Household Spending Falls 3.6% for Eighth Straight Month

Sep 04, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Household spending in Japan fell for an eighth consecutive month in July as consumers continued to economize on everyday purchases such as food and beverages while increasing spending on dining out, accommodation and in-game purchases.

Households with two or more people spent an average of 301,245 yen in July, according to the Family Income and Expenditure Survey released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

After adjusting for price changes, spending fell 3.6% from the same month a year earlier, extending the run of year-on-year declines to eight months.

Spending on prepared foods, including ready-made dishes, dropped 3.2%. The ministry said consumers remained focused on saving money, with some switching to cheaper products or reducing purchases altogether.

Spending on beverages fell 6.7%, partly because temperatures were lower than a year earlier and because price increases discouraged purchases.

By contrast, spending increased in areas including accommodation, dining out and in-game purchases.

The ministry said households appear to be spending selectively, allocating more money to certain activities while keeping overall expenditure restrained.

Source: TBS

Typhoon No. 24 Threatens Record Heavy Rain

Typhoon No. 24 (Krovanh) and a stationary autumn rain front are threatening record-breaking rainfall across Kyushu and Shikoku, with some parts of Miyazaki Prefecture forecast to receive more than 1,000 millimeters over three days and authorities warning of the possible formation of linear rainbands.

Japanese Researcher Wins Ig Nobel Prize

A late former professor at Asahikawa Medical University has won the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for scientifically examining the proper way to blow the nose, extending Japan's streak of Ig Nobel winners to 20 consecutive years.

Shinkansen Takes on Overnight Travel

Night trains are making a comeback across Japan, with railway operators introducing new overnight services and even experimenting with overnight Shinkansen trains as demand grows for alternatives that combine transportation, accommodation and the experience of traveling through the night.

Bear Attacks Continue as Peak Season Looms

Bear sightings and attacks have been reported across Japan throughout the summer, with animals damaging sheds, attacking livestock and injuring people, while experts warn that autumn is the most dangerous season as bears expand their range in search of food.

Japan to Conduct First Nationwide Survey of Animal Cafes

Japan's Environment Ministry will conduct its first survey of animal cafes, where customers can interact with animals including exotic species, as concerns grow over infection risks, injuries and the welfare burden placed on animals.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Japan Household Spending Falls 3.6% for Eighth Straight Month

Household spending in Japan fell for an eighth consecutive month in July as consumers continued to economize on everyday purchases such as food and beverages while increasing spending on dining out, accommodation and in-game purchases.

Serious Rice Surplus as Last Year's Stock Remains

Japan's rice market is facing a growing surplus as large volumes of last year's crop remain unsold just as another strong harvest begins reaching the market, forcing retailers to slash prices below cost and leaving farmers warning that losses could make it impossible to continue farming.

Oil Distributors Admit Antimonopoly Diesel Cartel

Five oil distributors, including Higashinihon Usami and ENEOS Wing, admitted charges of violating Japan's Antimonopoly Act by forming a cartel to coordinate diesel fuel prices at their first trial at the Tokyo District Court on September 3.

30% of FamilyMart Franchisees Face Staff Shortages

FamilyMart has unveiled a new hybrid checkout system that can operate as either a self-service or staffed register, aiming to reduce checkout-related work by about 20% as labor shortages affect roughly 30% of its franchise stores.

Nikkei Falls for Fourth Day as Stronger Yen and Rate Uncertainty Weigh

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on September 3, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,214.48, down 111.16 points, as uncertainty over interest rates and currencies kept pressure on risk assets, while the broader TOPIX rose 0.5% to 4,102.04.

Nikkei Plunges 1,889 Points as Oil Shock and Bond Rout Hit Tokyo

Tokyo stocks fell sharply on September 2, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 64,325.64, down 1,889.70 points, as renewed U.S. strikes on Iran sent oil prices higher, pushed bond yields up globally and triggered heavy selling across semiconductor, technology and export-related shares.

Japan Retail Bond Rates Hit Record Levels as Yields Rise

Interest rates on Japanese government bonds for individual investors offered in September have risen to record-high levels, with the 10-year floating-rate bond reaching 1.95%, according to figures announced on September 2.

Bessent and Ueda Meet as U.S. Backs Decisive Monetary Policy Measures

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda that he strongly supports decisive market intervention and monetary policy measures by Japan to address excessive yen weakness, saying the currency's depreciation is contributing to inflationary pressure.

< 2 3 4 5 >