Average monthly household spending dropped 1.4 percent in 2009 in real terms, marking the second consecutive year of decline, the government said Tuesday.
In nominal terms, household spending fell 2.9 percent to ¥253,720 as spending on entertainment and food declined, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said.
Average spending by single-member households decreased 3.8 percent in real terms and 0.2 percent at households with two or more members.
Spending on food dropped 2.4 percent. Clothing and footwear spending fell 4.5 percent. "Other spending," including entertainment expenses, declined 3.8 percent.
But cultural spending, including television and personal computer purchases, increased 2.7 percent.