TOKYO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan's real household spending fell 3.1 percent year-on-year in August, marking a ninth consecutive month of decline, government data showed Friday.
Average monthly consumption expenditure by households with two or more people stood at 310,975 yen (about 1,960 U.S. dollars), down 1.0 percent in nominal terms, according to data released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, real household spending edged up 0.1 percent from July, marking a second consecutive month-on-month increase.
Spending on food fell 1.4 percent, while outlays for energy and water bills dropped 5.2 percent as cooler temperatures reduced the need for air conditioning.
Spending on culture and recreation declined 4.3 percent, largely due to a pullback in domestic package tour spending following a surge during the previous year's World Exposition in Osaka, according to a ministry official.
Household spending is a key indicator of private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's gross domestic product. ■