TOKYO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan's real household spending rose 1.8 percent in September from a year earlier, marking a fifth consecutive month of increase, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed Friday.
Average monthly spending by households with two or more people stood at 303,214 yen (about 2,000 U.S. dollars) in September, driven by higher outlays for automobiles and leisure services, according to the ministry.
Transportation and communication expenditures climbed 11.5 percent, supported by a 19.8 percent gain in car-related purchases, while spending on culture and recreation climbed 6.4 percent.
Meanwhile, spending on food, which accounts for 30 percent of total household expenditures, fell 0.5 percent, down for the fourth straight month, as demand for chocolates and fresh vegetables weakened amid higher prices.
Accounting for more than half of Japan's gross domestic product, household spending is a key gauge of private consumption in the country.
On an inflation-adjusted basis, the average monthly income of salaried households with at least two members was flat from the year before at 510,935 yen, according to the data. ■
