Japan’s household spending fell 3.1% yoy in August 2026, easing from July’s decline and beating market expectations of a 3.6% drop. However, it marked the ninth straight month of decline as consumers remained cautious amid persistent inflation, though the pace was the mildest since May. Spending continued to contract on food (-1.4% vs -1.3% in July), utilities (-5.2% vs -9.2%), healthcare (-1.9% vs -6.0%), clothing (-8.7% vs -0.3%), housing (-5.8% vs -16.4%), and education (-12.3% vs -5.4%). Meanwhile, outlays on furniture and household goods fell 6.3%, reversing a 0.7% increase in July, while spending on culture and recreation fell 4.3%, down from 4.8% growth. In contrast, transport and communication spending recovered (0.2% vs -8.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, household expenditure edged up 0.1%, extending its gains for a second consecutive month but slowing sharply from July and falling short of estimates for a 0.5% increase. source: Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications

Household Spending in Japan decreased 3.10 percent in August of 2026 over the previous month. Household Spending in Japan averaged -0.75 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 13 percent in April of 2021 and a record low of -16.20 percent in May of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Japan Household Spending - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Japan Household Spending YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Household Spending in Japan decreased 3.10 percent in August of 2026 over the previous month. Household Spending in Japan is expected to be 1.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Household Spending YoY is projected to trend around 1.60 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-03 11:30 PM
Household Spending YoY
Jul -3.6% -3.3% -1.6% -1.0%
2026-10-08 11:30 PM
Household Spending YoY
Aug -3.1% -3.6% -3.6% -2.0%
2026-11-09 11:30 PM
Household Spending YoY
Sep -3.1% 0.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 3.25 3.15 percent Aug 2026
Consumer Confidence 35.40 35.50 points Sep 2026
Consumer Credit 649320.00 621564.00 JPY Billion Jun 2026
GDP Private Consumption 310766.30 310743.10 JPY Billion Jun 2026
Disposable Personal Income 554.38 810.64 JPY Thousand Jul 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.08 1.07 USD/Liter Sep 2026
Household Spending YoY -3.10 -3.60 percent Aug 2026
Household Spending MoM 0.10 0.50 percent Aug 2026
Households Debt to GDP 60.80 60.80 percent of GDP Mar 2026
Personal Savings -5.90 4.20 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM -1.20 2.10 percent Aug 2026
Retail Sales YoY 2.70 3.70 percent Aug 2026


Japan Household Spending YoY
In Japan, Household Spending YoY refers to the annual change of consumption expenditures (on food, housing, utilities, furniture, clothing, health, education, transport, communication, leisure activities, etc.) in real terms for two-or-more-person households including agricultural, forestry and fisheries households.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-3.10 -3.60 13.00 -16.20 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Personal Spending Falls the Least in 3 Months
Japan’s household spending fell 3.1% yoy in August 2026, easing from July’s decline and beating market expectations of a 3.6% drop. However, it marked the ninth straight month of decline as consumers remained cautious amid persistent inflation, though the pace was the mildest since May. Spending continued to contract on food (-1.4% vs -1.3% in July), utilities (-5.2% vs -9.2%), healthcare (-1.9% vs -6.0%), clothing (-8.7% vs -0.3%), housing (-5.8% vs -16.4%), and education (-12.3% vs -5.4%). Meanwhile, outlays on furniture and household goods fell 6.3%, reversing a 0.7% increase in July, while spending on culture and recreation fell 4.3%, down from 4.8% growth. In contrast, transport and communication spending recovered (0.2% vs -8.5%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, household expenditure edged up 0.1%, extending its gains for a second consecutive month but slowing sharply from July and falling short of estimates for a 0.5% increase.
2026-10-08
Japan Personal Spending Falls More than Estimated
Japan's household spending declined 3.6% yoy in July 2026, deepening from a 3.3% drop in the prior month and underperforming market expectations for a 1.6% fall. It marked the eighth straight month of contraction and the sharpest pace since January 2024, underscoring persistent weakness in consumer demand. Spending fell further on food (-1.3% vs -2.5% in June), utilities (-9.2% vs -7.1%) and transport and communication (-8.5% vs -5.7%), while the decline in clothing narrowed sharply (-0.3% vs -19.9%). Expenditure also weakened on healthcare (-6.0% vs 1.4%), education (-5.4% vs 20.6%) and housing (-16.4% vs 3.6%). In contrast, spending on furniture and household goods rebounded (0.7% vs -11.4%), while culture and recreation accelerated (4.8% vs 0.4%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, household expenditure rose 0.5%, reversing a 6.4% decline in June and missing forecasts for a 2.6% increase.
2026-09-03
Japan Personal Spending Unexpectedly Falls
Japan's household spending dropped 3.3% yoy in June 2026, deepening from a 0.4% decline in the prior month and defying market expectations for a 1.0% rise. It marked the seventh straight month of contraction and the sharpest fall in the current sequence, underscoring persistent weakness in consumer demand. Spending weakened for food (-2.5% vs 2.4% in May), utilities (-7.1% vs -7.6%), furniture and household goods (-11.4% vs 23.0%), clothing (-19.9% vs 4.0%), and transport and communication (-5.7% vs -15.8%). Meanwhile, growth in spending eased for healthcare (1.4% vs 3.3%) and education (20.6% vs 21.7%). In contrast, housing expenditure accelerated (3.6% vs 0.7%), while spending on culture and recreation returned to growth (0.4% vs -3.1%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, household expenditure slipped 6.4%, reversing a 3.7% gain in May and far exceeding forecasts for a 3.1% decrease. The reading was the first monthly fall since March and the steepest drop since January 2021.
2026-08-06