TOKYO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan's household spending dropped 1.8 percent in inflation-adjusted real terms in February from a year earlier, marking the third consecutive monthly decline, as food purchases remained sluggish amid rising prices, and outlays on transportation and communication plunged, government data showed Tuesday.
Households of two or more people spent an average of 289,391 yen (around 1,812 U.S. dollars) in the reporting month, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
By category, food spending, which accounts for around 30 percent of household expenditures, slipped 0.5 percent, weighed down by sluggish demand for seafood and seasonings. Expenditure on transportation and communication fell 5.9 percent, reflecting weak automobile sales.
In contrast, outlays on entertainment rose 10.8 percent, buoyed by growth in overseas package travel, while furniture and home appliances purchases edged up 1.9 percent, Kyodo News reported, citing a ministry official.
Household spending is a key indicator of private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's gross domestic product.
Meanwhile, the average monthly income of salaried households with at least two individuals edged up 1.6 percent in real terms to 589,038 yen, the ministry said. ■
