Japan's wage-earning households spent 0.4 percent less in real terms in July than they did a year earlier, the fourth straight month of decline, the government said Friday.

The downswing slowed from June's 3 percent, however, due in part to an increase in outlays for learning and leisure, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said in a preliminary report.

Average spending by wage-earning households came to 345,890 yen, with a ministry official describing the situation as not deteriorating, although it continues to be sluggish.