Households of two or more people spent an average of 281,736 yen (about 1,900 U.S. dollars), sliding for the fifth consecutive month and marking the sharpest fall since a 6.5-percent drop in February 2021, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
By category, food expenditure, accounting for around one-third of household spending, fell 2.8 percent, amid rising prices for fish and meat.
Spending on medical supplies such as face masks and thermometers declined after the legal status of COVID-19 was downgraded to the same category as seasonal flu.
Meanwhile, spending on accommodation and package tours increased 10.6 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively, as people traveled during their summer vacations after the removal of coronavirus restrictions.
Latest comments