Spending by Japan’s households fell in August from the same month last year. Officials at the internal affairs ministry say natural disasters were one factor behind the decline.
Households with two or more people spent 297,487 yen, or about 2,000 dollars, on average. That’s a drop of 1.9 percent in yen terms, adjusted for inflation. It was the first decline in two months.
The officials cite the impact of typhoons and a government advisory on the possibility of a major earthquake.
Transportation and communication expenditures plunged 17.1 percent. Auto sales slumped when the typhoons forced dealerships to close temporarily.
Spending on travel and other activities related to culture and recreation was down 6.9 percent.
Utilities expenditures fell 2.4 percent. People likely tried to conserve their electricity and gas use after the government temporarily ended subsidies for energy bills.
But households spent 2.6 percent more on food. Typhoons curtailed travel plans, as families ate out more often instead. Rice prices also went up.