Japan Household Spending Falls 1.3 Pct in Oct.

   Tokyo, Dec. 6 (Jiji Press)--Spending by households with two or more members in Japan averaged 305,819 yen in October, down 1.3 pct from a year earlier in inflation-adjusted real terms, an internal affairs ministry report showed Friday.
   Household spending fell for the third consecutive month as higher-than-usual temperatures dampened purchases of autumn and winter clothes and money-saving attitudes curbed food purchases.
   By category, spending on clothes slid 13.7 pct, the first decline in three months, reflecting falls in purchases of coats for women and business suits. Spending on sportswear, which is included in educational and recreational goods, was also sluggish.
   Spending on food edged down 0.8 pct, down for the first time in three months. Spending on meat dropped 4.6 pct as consumption of beef and pork, which are relatively expensive, fell while that of chicken, which is cheaper, rose.
   Spending on confectionery fell 3 pct, with chocolate consumption falling markedly. Rice, whose prices have soared in recent months, posted a 6.4 pct decline after moves to stockpile it in August.

(2024/12/06-13:59)

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