TOKYO - Household spending in Japan fell 6.8% in September from a year earlier, marking the 10th consecutive month of decline and the sharpest drop since September 2020, when consumer activity was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to government data released on November 10.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said its latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that average monthly consumption expenditure among households of two or more people stood at 289,536 yen in September. The 6.8% decline was calculated in real terms, excluding the effects of price changes.
The figures highlight continued weakness in household consumption, with spending falling across major categories including food, entertainment and leisure activities.
Food expenditure, which accounts for a substantial share of household budgets, declined 2.5% in real terms from a year earlier, while spending on culture and recreation dropped 8.7%, reflecting reduced consumer activity during the month.
Weather conditions also weighed on spending, as typhoons and record-breaking heavy rainfall in eastern Japan discouraged people from going outdoors and reduced opportunities for shopping and leisure activities.
Lower temperatures associated with the unsettled weather contributed to reduced spending on beverages and electricity, further pulling down overall household consumption.
The ministry attributed part of the decline to the prolonged impact of severe weather during August and September, noting that consumers had fewer opportunities to make purchases as heavy rainfall kept people at home.
"During August and September, heavy rain caused people to refrain from going out, reducing opportunities to make purchases," the ministry said.
The September figures represent the steepest year-on-year contraction in real household spending in six years, underscoring the vulnerability of consumer demand to disruptions in everyday activities and raising concerns about the strength of domestic consumption.
Source: TBS
