News Marathon 8: April Salaryman Consumption falls 3.1% in real terms

NIKKEI:

According to a Ministry of Home Affairs survey on the April finances of “salaryman” households released on May 31, the consumption spending for one household was 354,991 yen, a substantial decrease 3.1% from this month last year, excluding price changes. This is the first decrease from the same month last year in two months. In nominal amounts displaying the amounts of money actually paid the decrease was 3.0%.

Looking at consumption by expense items, education was the area most depressed with a real decrease of 22.2%. Discretionary income, which is real income after non-consumption expenses such as taxes and social insurance fees are deducted, increased 3.7% in real terms.