Japan household spending sees first rise in 14 months

This is doublespeak for, "People have no choice but to spend more because prices keep on rising".

I know nobody (and I mean nobody) that is happily spending more because they are getting better wages.

Talk about propaganda.

Japan's household spending rose in April for the first time in 14 months, official data showed Friday, as wages grow at the fastest pace in three decades.

Yesterday:

https://japantoday.com/category/business/update2-japan%27s-real-wages-fall-for-record-25th-straight-month-in-april#comment-4237480

The figure was up 0.5 percent on-year with more money spent on education, clothes and transport, including cars, according to the internal affairs ministry.

The economic wizards at the Ministry see going back to school expenses as the sign of a rebounding consumer market.

Masamichi Adachi and Go Kurihara at UBS said last month that in Japan, the "prospect of consumption looks rather good" as "nominal wage growth is expected to accelerate".

Great use of the word 'nominal' meaning 'very small; far below the real value or cost' or 'existing in name only'.

The economic propaganda has truly reached pathetic levels.

Masamichi Adachi and Go Kurihara at UBS said last month that in Japan, the "prospect of consumption looks rather good" as "nominal wage growth is expected to accelerate".

And yesterday, we learned that real wages had fallen for a 25th consecutive month. Rising spending and falling wages is not a good combination.

https://japantoday.com/category/business/update2-japan's-real-wages-fall-for-record-25th-straight-month-in-april

Yesterday wages were down today they're up. Down again tomorrow?

The Government really thinks that their people are dumb

The 15-64 population (Japanese 生産年齢人口) falls by getting on for one million people every year. Many old folks are still working of course, but generally in low paid work. As a country ages, its average household spending should fall. I'm looking forward to spending less and will be completely screwed if spending doesn't fall.

I guess you can bleed a rock.

It's just propaganda.

put the rate of wage increases among major companies at 5.58 percent 

Which accounts for less than 10% of the working force. Keidanren forgot to mention that the other 95% of the people has seen little to no wage increase at all.

More propaganda!!

The price of fuel,electricity (never measured) and food are way up.

The journos at AFP, if they were living in Japan would know but they don’t and all they have done is just accept some govt issued statements and figures…

Terrible!

kurisupisu

The price of fuel, electricity (never measured) and food are way up.

The price of electricity is the same as one year ago.

@wallace

The price of electricity is the same as one year ago.

Yes, but a year ago the government approved massive electricity hikes ranging from 14% to 42%.

According to Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, the electricity increases were as follows:

21% by Hokkaido Electric Power

24% by Tohoku Electric Power

14% by TEPCO

42% by Hokuriku Electric Power

29% by Chugoku Electric Power

25% by Shikoku Electric Power

38% by Okinawa Electric Power

Asiaman7

My KANSAI charge one year ago was ¥25-27/kWh. This year ¥25-27/kWh. KANSAI is what kurisuisu uses in Kobe.

Last year, the government subsidised power and gas by 20%. In that last year was cheaper.

Asiaman7

Who is your power company? Charges last year. Charges this year.

My KANSAI charge one year ago was ¥25-27/kWh. This year ¥25-27/kWh. 

Yes, Kansai Electric Power Co., Chubu Electric Power Co., and Kyushu Electric Power Co. did not raise their rates last year.

The companies indicated above did — significantly.

The government subsidy program that you reference will end next month.

—

“Energy bills set to rise from July with expiry of state subsidies,” https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15288258

Asiaman7

My KANSAI charge one year ago was ¥25-27/kWh. This year ¥25-27/kWh. 

Yes, Kansai Electric Power Co., Chubu Electric Power Co., and Kyushu Electric Power Co. did not raise their rates last year.

The companies indicated above did — significantly.

The government subsidy program that you reference will end next month.

??? We have not received those since March.

—

“Energy bills set to rise from July with expiry of state subsidies,” https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15288258

@wallace

I meant to write that food was not measured in inflations stats.

Our electricity in Kobe is rising within a month or two.

On a recent highway trip to Kyot the tolls have risen.

JR and Hankyu tickets have risen too.

AFP have it completely skewed…

fwiw, Kansai Electric have by far the most operating nuclear power plants and are insulated from the cost of fossil fuel. Second most is Kyushu. Most of the others have one or two nuke plants at most going.

I’m doing great, get most of my income in GBP, USD and Euros. Spending a lot lately, we are having a wonderful time.

My KANSAI charge one year ago was ¥25-27/kWh. This year ¥25-27/kWh. KANSAI is what kurisuisu uses in Kobe.

Overall expenses must be small without a television.

Which accounts for less than 10% of the working force. 

Wage trends and other labor conditions in the corporate sector tend to filter down to the SMEs. That's how Japan works: follow the leader.

It's called cost-push inflation. Covered in high school economics class.