Japan - Haushaltsausgaben

Japan's household spending declined 5.1 percent from a year earlier in October 2019, following a 9.5 percent gain in the previous month and missing market expectations of a 3 percent drop. It was the first annual decline in spending in eleven months and the sharpest since March 2016, as consumers cut purchases after a sales tax hike and as a typhoon disrupted business. Spending on furniture & household utensils plunged 16.3 percent, after jumping 60.3 percent in September; and housing purchases dropped 12.7 percent after rising 11 percent. Also, spending fell in education (-15.9 percent vs 9 percent); clothing & footwear (-10.7 percent vs 15.9 percent); transportation & communication (-6.3 percent vs 15.4 percent); recreation & culture (-5.1 percent vs 10.8 percent); food (-3.9 percent vs 3 percent; and medical care (-2.8 percent vs 26.3 percent). On a monthly basis, household spending plummeted 11.5 percent after a 5.5 percent rise and compared with forecasts of a 9.8 percent fall.

Japan's household spending surged 9.5 percent from a year earlier in September 2019, accelerating from a 1.0 percent gain in the previous month and well above market expectations of a 7.8 percent rise. It was the tenth consecutive annual increase in spending, the longest such streak since comparable data became available in 2001, as consumers rushed their purchases before a sales tax hike. Spending on furniture & household utensils rebounded jumped 60.2 percent after rebounding 13.2 percent in the previous month, while medical care expenditure soared 26.3 percent after rising 1 percent. Also, transport & communication jumped 15.4 after a 3.4 percent advance, while clothing & footwear rose further (15.9 percent vs 15.9 percent). Meanwhile, food spending accelerated modestly (3 percent vs 1.6 percent). Housing (11 percent) and culture & recreation (10.8) also rose sharply. On a monthly basis, household spending surged 5.5 percent after increasing 2.4 percent in the previous month.

Japan's household spending increased 1.0 percent from a year earlier in August 2019, accelerating from a 0.8 percent gain in the previous month but below market expectations of a 1.2 percent rise. It was the ninth consecutive annual increase in spending, the longest such streak since comparable data became available in 2001. Spending on furniture & household utensils rebounded a sharp 13.2 percent after falling 7.5 percent in the previous month, while clothing & footwear also rebounded from a moderate decline (4.7 percent vs -3.4 percent). Increases were also seen for food (1.6 percent vs -0.5 percent), medical care (1 percent vs 8.5 percent), transport & communication (3.4 percent vs 2 percent), and culture & recreation (3.5 percent vs 2 percent). On a monthly basis, household spending rebounded 2.4 percent, slightly below market expectations of a 2.8 percent jump.

Japan's household spending increased 0.8 percent from a year earlier in July 2019, easing from a 2.7 percent gain in the previous month and below market expectations of a 1.1 percent rise. It was the eight consecutive annual increase although the weakest since December, as spending on furniture & household utensils shrank 7.5 percent, clothing & footwear (-3.4 percent), fuel, light & water charges (-3.4 percent), and food (-0.5 percent). In contrast, medical care expenditure jumped 8.5 percent. On a monthly basis, household spending declined 0.9 percent, after decreasing 2.8 percent in the prior month and compared to market consensus of a 1.3 percent fall.

Japan's household spending climbed 2.7 percent from a year earlier in June 2019, after a 4.0 percent gain in the previous month and compared to market expectations of a 1.4 percent increase. Slower growth from the previous month was mainly explained by housing (-4.0 percent from +6.7 percent) and education (-6.1 percent from +7.8 percent). Also, furniture & household utensils lost steam (+6.1 percent vs +12.8 percent). In contrast, medical care expenditure rebounded 8.8 percent after falling 0.8 percent. On a monthly basis, household spending declined 2.8 percent after a 5.5 percent surge in the previous month and compared to market consensus of a 3.0 percent decrease.

Japan's household spending jumped 4.0 percent from a year earlier in May 2019, after a 1.3 percent gain in the previous month and compared to market expectations of a 1.6 percent increase. It was the fastest rise in consumption since May 2015, mainly driven by furniture & household utensils (+12.8 percent), education (+7.8 percent), utilities (+6.9 percent), and housing (+6.7 percent). Meanwhile, medical care expenditure dropped 0.8 percent. On a monthly basis, household spending surged 5.5 percent, rebounding from a 1.4 percent fall in the previous month and compared to market consensus of a 1.2 percent gain.