Average monthly household spending fell a price-adjusted 0.7 percent in May from a year earlier to ¥280,714 for the second straight month of decline, the government said Tuesday.

The average monthly income of salaried households came to ¥421,413, down 2.4 percent in real terms, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said in a preliminary report.

The decline followed an increase in spending in May last year, when a pump-priming cash handout program increased household income, the ministry said.

Spending was also capped by consumers refraining from buying fresh vegetables due to price increases.