Household expenditure data from Japan above expectations
In Japan, household expenditures decreased less than expected in March, at 1.2 percent.
Japan’s household spending fell less than expected in March, at 1.2 percent in real terms from a year earlier; Economists’ estimates were 2.4 percent.
On a monthly basis, household spending rose 1.2 percent, compared with the 0.3 percent decline economists expected.
Japan’s statistics bureau said average monthly consumption expenditures rose 1.9 percent in nominal terms to 318,713 yen ($2,049.23).
Average monthly income per household was 513,734 yen in March; This was a 3 percent increase in nominal terms and a 0.1 percent decrease in real terms compared to the previous year.