Japan's households increased spending for the first time in four months in June, with demand for travel services rising in a positive sign for broader recovery prospects.
Spending jumped 3.5% in June from a year earlier, government data showed Friday, posting its first year-on-year rise since January as households opened their purse strings for overnight stays, package tours and outdoor goods.
The data, which was stronger than the median estimate for a 1.5% rise in a Reuters poll, showed people spent less on fish and vegetables, while also spending more on transportation.