Households increased spending for the first time in six months in July, government data showed Friday, providing a positive sign in the world's third-largest economy despite it being just a slight uptick in expenditures.

Spending by households with two or more people edged up 0.1 percent from a year earlier to ¥283,387 ($2,560), despite negative factors such as torrential rain and flooding in western Japan during the month, an official at the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said.

Expenditures rose for new cars and mobile phone fees but fell for food and clothing, according to the data.