TOKYO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan's real household spending climbed 2.3 percent year on year in August, marking a fourth consecutive month of increase, data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry showed Tuesday.
The gain was largely driven by a rebound in automobile purchases and travel-related expenditures, according to the data.
Average monthly spending by households with two or more people stood at 313,977 yen (about 2,085 U.S. dollars) in August.
Outlays on leisure and cultural services, including domestic and overseas package tours, rose 13.0 percent, reflecting a rebound from last year's slump.
Spending on cultural facilities jumped 50.9 percent, while movie and theater admissions rose 30.3 percent, supported by popular events such as the Osaka-Kansai Expo and blockbuster films.
Food expenditures declined 1.2 percent, down for the third straight month. Rice purchases plunged 28.9 percent, while bread and noodles also fell, following a surge in stockpiling last year amid disaster warnings. ■
