Overall household spending in January rose 1.3 percent in real terms from a year earlier for the third straight month of increase.

Preliminary government data released Friday by the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry shows that Japanese households spent an average of 301,882 yen in January.

Household spending increased 1 percent from a year earlier in nominal terms.

Household spending is a key gauge of personal spending, which accounts for about 60 percent of Japan's gross domestic product.