Japan's household spending, wage decline cloud economic outlook

What do you expect when you have inflation and no cost of living increase at your job? Then you want to increase the sales tax to further stagnate the economy when its already becoming much more difficult for the average person to afford things.

How about focus on placing pressure on companies to provide a livable wage?

Christ! Wages STAGNANT. Foods up. These people are who claim to be leaders are garnishing huge Salerys while straight out kicking the population squarely in the nuts.

Don't worry, this is bonus month, after that people will spent money and they will say that everything is good and well and the tax increase will happen.

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Not so much the bonus system for employees, but the problem is the executive pay, benefits and their bonuses. It is too "lopsided" and "abusive" of those who actually work.

If even one of the over paid exceutives gave up 10% of their pay and bonus, imagine the hundreds of employees that could, if they would pay out, get the raises in salary that can benefit both the employees and the economy.

Weak spending has held back many firms from raising prices for years for fear of losing customers.

If those firms are so concerned, why don't the give wage rises to their employees, who, after all, are consumers. With more pocket money, they would spend more, and problem solved.

Spending is not a measure of economic growth, savings is. Tell the us the data on household savings, and capital investment.

When will they stop sugar coating the truth about the Japanese economy? It is flailing and failing. There has been no economic growth for twenty years. In fact, the economy has become much worse in that period with the cost of living increasing by 25% and salaries decreasing by the sane amount. That means that, Naoko Average is now 50% worse off than he was twenty years ago.

When will they stop sugar coating the truth about the Japanese economy? It is flailing and failing. There has been no economic growth for twenty years. In fact, the economy has become much worse in that period with the cost of living increasing by 25% and salaries decreasing by the sane amount. That means that, Naoko Average is now 50% worse off than he was twenty years ago.

110% agree!

When will they stop sugar coating the truth about the Japanese economy? It is flailing and failing.

Exactly. It's the end of the ponzi. When the money supply is diluted with zillions of digital fiat and then the taxpayers, mortgage holders etc are forced to pay it back with interest which was never created with the principle (real life musical chairs), then eventually it's going to collapse on itself. The govt and BOJ can obfuscate and push for 2% inflation to keep the bubble expanding for a bit longer but it's just a matter of time. The only way out of this scam might be some kind of debt jubilee and reset but that's probably wishful thinking. It's a good thing we're not in a fully cashless society yet where it would be easy to lop a zero or two off the end of everyone's savings.

But many economists said recent gains in business spending suggested upward revisions to capital spending and overall economic growth in the quarter.

Who exactly are these nimrods? Have they actually seen how the taro fella on the street actually lives?

Yeah, the finance minister Aso just told the country this week that nenkin isn't enough and that people should start saving for retirement! That would definitely help increase household spending.

You wanna see economic activity you go to the flea market a setagaya park on Sundays - all these department stores I just don't know how they stay in business.

There has been no economic growth for twenty years. 

GDP per capita has been steadily expanding over that time, basically in line with the OECD average