Economic Buzz: Japan household spending falls in April

Japan?s inflation-adjusted real wages rose 1.9 percent in April from a year earlier, up for the fourth straight month, government data showed Friday.

Nominal wages, or the average monthly cash earnings per worker including base salary and overtime pay, increased 3.5 percent to 312,425 yen (about 1,900 U.S. dollars), marking the third consecutive month of growth surpassing 3 percent, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Regular pay, which mainly comprises base salary, grew 3.4 percent to 277,916 yen.

Meanwhile, separate government data showed Friday that Japan?s household spending in April edged down in real terms by 0.5 percent from a year earlier.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, households of two or more people spent an average of 328,969 yen.

By category, spending on food and beverages remained weak amid persistent inflation, falling 0.6 percent, while expenditure on clothing and shoes dropped 10.9 percent on slower demand for business suits for men. Utility bills declined 8.6 percent due to lower use of heating.

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