Household spending in Japan decreased by 0.4% year-on-year in November, a slight improvement over the anticipated 0.6% drop.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, spending rose by 0.4%, contradicting the forecasted decline of 0.9%.
Shifts in consumer behavior are evident as spending on food, clothing, and entertainment decreased, while education and housing expenditures increased.
Inflation and currency issues are pressuring real wages, leading to uncertainty about the timing of future interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.
Recent pay data revealed that despite rising wages, inflation-adjusted wages have dropped for four consecutive months, raising concerns for consumers.