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August 11, 2026
 

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CONSUMER SPENDING

Japan's household spending fell 3.3% in June from a year earlier, led by drops in spending on food and apparel, among others.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 7, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ households continue to cut spending amid persistent inflation
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation dropped 3.3% in June from a year earlier, compared with a 0.9% increase forecast by economists.
A reduction of the sales tax on food has made slow progress as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted for multiparty talks that failed to reach a consensus.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jul 28, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s long-term vision may fail to dispel inflation angst
The one issue on which voters sought quick and clear action ¡ª a reduction of the sales tax on food ¡ª has made slow progress.
Japanese summer travel budgets increased for the first time in three years to an average of ?58,902 ($363) this year, according to a recent survey.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ summer vacation budgets rise for first time in three years
An online survey conducted in June found that higher prices and a weak yen were the main reasons among respondents for increasing their budgets.
Japan's nominal wages rose 3.2% in May from a year earlier, marking a fourth straight month of wage growth of at least 3%.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 7, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ nominal wage rises top 3% again in longest streak since 1992
Employers are showing they are committed to raising pay despite difficulties related to the Middle East conflict that have disrupted supply chains and boosted inflation.
Sales at department stores in Japan climbed strongly from a year earlier, likely helped by robust tourist spending.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 29, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ retail sales rise for third month on wage gains and subsidies
The 1.9% month-on-month advance was led by sales of vehicles, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Spending on food, utilities and clothing also dragged down household spending figure for March.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 12, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ households cut spending even as wages kept growing
Transportation and communications made up the biggest drag on spending in March, while food, utilities and clothing also weighed on the figure.
Â鶹´«Ã½ household spending fell for a third consecutive month in February, dropping 1.8% year-on-year despite real wages turning positive, highlighting weak domestic demand.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 7, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ households cut spending even after real wages advance
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation fell 1.8% in February from a year earlier, a faster decline compared with January¡¯s 1% retreat.
The rise in used condo prices in central Tokyo is stalling as investor demand for real estate slows.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 24, 2026
Used Tokyo condo price gains stalling as policies drag on demand
Average contract prices for used condos in bay-side neighborhoods such as Toyosu and Kachidoki decreased 0.6% in January from December, marking the first decline in five months.
A survey shows people in Japan plan to spend an average of ?6,383 on cherry blossom viewing this year, down 13.8% from the previous year, amid consumer concern over inflation.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2026
Average cherry blossom-viewing budget falls 13.8%
The survey also showed that about 10% of people plan to go to view cherry blossoms alone.
A heap of dried cocoa beans. High prices of cocoa beans are influencing consumers' purchases of chocolates for Valentine's Day gifts, a recent survey shows.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 12, 2026
Fewer women and girls to give Valentine¡¯s Day gifts amid high chocolate prices
The high price of cocoa beans, the basic ingredient for chocolate, have made many choose lower-priced items and reduce the number of gifts they purchase, a recent survey shows.
Japan's ratio of household spending on food in 2025 rose by 0.3 percentage point from the previous year to 28.6%.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 8, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ ratio of household spending on food hits 44-year high
Total household spending averaged ?314,001 per month, up 4.6% in nominal terms.
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation gained 2.9% in November from a year earlier, with the advance driven by outlays on cars and communications, according to the internal affairs ministry.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2026
Â鶹´«Ã½ household outlays rose ahead of Takaichi¡¯s stimulus plan
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation gained 2.9% from a year earlier, with the advance driven by outlays on cars and communications, the internal affairs ministry reported.
A customer looks at foods displayed for sale at a Lawson convenience store in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 2, 2026
Japan retailers racing to offer low-priced goods amid inflation
Companies are making efforts to keep the prices of their merchandise low by using cheap materials and ingredients.
An electronics store in the Akihabara area in Tokyo. Domestic consumption has expanded for three straight quarters, albeit at a subdued pace.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 5, 2025
Â鶹´«Ã½ household outlays fall in sign of fragile domestic demand
Private spending is a key component in the central bank¡¯s goal of achieving a virtuous economic cycle in which wage gains help fuel demand-led price increases.
Tourists from China in the Ginza shopping district in Tokyo on Nov. 22
BUSINESS
Dec 1, 2025
China travel warning deals blow to Matsuya Ginza tax-free sales
The slump in inbound spending underscores how diplomatic tensions between China and Japan since mid-November are weighing on retail sales.
Outlays by households gained 1.8% in September from a year earlier, led by transportation and entertainment, but the rise was lower than expected, reflecting falling spending on housing and education.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 7, 2025
Japanese households boost spending despite inflation hit
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation gained 1.8% in September from a year earlier, led by transportation and entertainment.
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation rose 2.3% in August from a year earlier, driven by transport and entertainment, the government said Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 7, 2025
Â鶹´«Ã½ household spending rises more than expected in August
Outlays by households adjusted for inflation gained 2.3% from a year ago in August, led by spending on transport and entertainment.
Signs of recovery in consumer spending have some analysts looking for a rate increase as soon as October.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2025
Bank of Japan rate increase looking more likely
The Cabinet Office is becoming more positive on consumer spending.
A customer shops at a Takeya store in Tokyo in July.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 9, 2025
Hidden inflation drives Japanese consumers to price-tracking sites
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 3.1% in July from the previous year.
Summers in Japan have grown hotter and hotter, and people have had to spend more money as a result.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 25, 2025
Tokyo household budgets further squeezed by heat wave
On average, monthly expenses are up more than $23 a month as a result of high temperatures.
America¡¯s cyberforces grapple with cluster of deaths by suicide
The U.S. Cyber Command building (center) stands on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Speaking Japanese at the movies with ¡®Chiikawa¡¯
A "Chiikawa The Movie" poster is seen at Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
How Â鶹´«Ã½ racehorses find second careers away from the track
TCC Therapy Park is supported financially by racing organizations as well as donations from members of the public.
Will Takaichi¡¯s consumption tax cut break the LDP?
Despite months of debate, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi failed to gain consensus within the Liberal Democratic Party on a two-year reduction of the consumption tax.

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