Japan Household Spending2001-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar | Historical

Household spending in Japan grew by 0.7% year-on-year in real terms in July 2021, missing market estimates of a 2.9 a % growth and after a 5.1% drop in the prior month. There was a rebound in spending on food (1.9% vs -1.6% in June), clothing (2.7% vs -15.1%), transport & communication (14.2% vs -5.8%), and culture & recreation (1.7% vs -0.2%). In contrast, spending declined for housing (-1.7% vs 1%), fuel, light & water charges (-5.9% vs -5.8%), furniture & household (-8.4% vs -21.7%), medical care (-7% vs 2.7%), and education (-9.9% vs 12.1%). On a monthly basis, household spending unexpectedly dropped by 0.9%, missing consensus of a 1.1% gain and after a 3.2% fall in July.

Household spending in Japan unexpectedly decreased by 5.1% year-on-year in real terms in June 2021, after an 11.6% surge in May and missing market estimates of a 0.1% growth. This marked the first decline in personal consumption since February, as spending deteriorated following the latest wave of COVID-19 cases. Spending fell for food (-1.6% vs 2.1% in May), fuel, light & water charges (-5.8% vs -2.4%), furniture & household (-21.7% vs-2.6%), clothing (-15.1% vs 13%), transport & communication (-5.8% vs 23.5%), and culture & recreation (-0.2% vs 24%). In addition, consumption grew softer for medical care (2.7% vs 14.9%), housing (1% vs 28.9%), and education (12.1% vs 22.8%). On a monthly basis, household spending unexpectedly dropped by 3.2%, missing consensus of a 2% gain and after a 2.1% fall in June.

Household spending in Japan rose 11.6% in real terms from a year earlier in May 2021, after a 13% gain in April and compared with market expectations of 10.9%. This was the third straight month of increase in personal consumption, amid base effects from 2020's sharp fall due to the initial impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Spending continued to rise for food (2.1% vs 3.5 in April), housing (28.9% vs 15.3%), clothing (13% vs 84.8%), medical care (14.9% vs 8.9%), transport & communication (23.5% vs 20.1%), education (22.8% vs 15.5%), and culture & recreation (24% vs 25.1%). On the other hand, consumers spent less on fuel, light & water charges, which was the second time since May 2020 (-2.4% vs -5.1%). Also, spending on furniture & household declined for the first time in three months (-2.6% vs 9.2%). On a monthly basis, household spending fell by 2.1%, less than consensus of a 3.7% drop and after a 0.1% gain in April.

Household spending in Japan surged 13% in real terms from a year earlier in April 2021, accelerating from a 6.2% gain in March and well above market expectations of 9.3%. This was the steepest increase since comparable monthly data became available in January 2001 and amid base effects from 2020's sharp fall due to the initial impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Spending rose for most categories: food (3.5% vs flat reading in March), clothing (84.8% vs 4.4%), housing (15.3% vs 26.5%), furniture & household (9.2% vs 7.4%), medical care (8.9% vs 7.1%), transport & communication (20.1% vs -2.7%), education (15.5% vs 33.3%), and culture & recreation (25.1% vs 12.3%). On the other hand, consumers spent less on fuel, light & water charges, which was the first time since May 2020 (-5.1% vs 7.8%). On a monthly basis, household spending unexpectedly grew by 0.1%, beating consensus of a 2.2% drop and after a 7.2% surge in March.