Spending by wage-earning households rose an inflation-adjusted 3.4 percent in June from the year before, the government said Friday.

The increase to 312,297 yen followed a decline of 0.4 percent in May and a jump of 0.9 percent in April, according to the Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.

The average monthly income of these households decreased 2.3 percent in real terms to 740,440 yen.

Disposable income fell back a real 2.3 percent to 631,358 yen.

Household spending accounts for about 60 percent of Japan's gross domestic product and wage-earning households' outlays make up 60 percent of total household spending.

"The rise in spending can be attributed to the fact that June 30 was a Sunday. People apparently bought more following bonus payments," said Masato Aida, director of the ministry's consumer statistics division.

He pointed out that many companies paid bonuses on June 25 and that families were inclined to buy products such as household electrical goods.

Spending on furniture and household appliances rose 4.8 percent from a year earlier, while outlays on clothing and shoes grew 8.5 percent and food spending was up 2.9 percent.

Spending on housing grew 16.9 percent from the year before as people spent more on renovation and maintenance, while expenditures in the transport and telecommunications sector rose 11.5 percent due to increased automobile-related outlays.

In contrast, spending on medical services dropped 3.9 percent, reflecting a decline in medical examination fees.

Spending in the educational and entertainment sector was down 2.7 percent as a whole, but spending on televisions, which are included in the sector, surged 258 percent from the year before due to the World Cup soccer tournament.

Aida said household spending has continued to show up and down movements and that spending could decline in July following the rise in June, which was boosted by the bonus payments.

"However, steady movements are likely to be seen in spending in the food sector," he said. Food spending rose in June for the seventh straight month.