Average household spending fell a real 0.8 percent in May from a year earlier to 288,840 yen, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline, the government said Friday.
The fall, adjusted for price changes, followed a 1.2 percent decline the previous month, according to the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.
Spending on transportation and communications slipped 3.7 percent, and that on furniture and other household goods slid 2.8 percent.
Spending on health care rose 2 percent, and that on housing grew 1.8 percent.
Household spending is a key gauge of personal spending, which accounts for about 60 percent of Japan's gross domestic product.