Inflation: Japan – Konsum bricht überraschend stark ein
Steigende Lebenshaltungskosten setzen Japans Verbraucher zunehmend unter Druck. Die schwache Binnennachfrage könnte auch für die anstehende Zinsentscheidung der Notenbank eine Rolle spielen.
Tokyo - Japanese consumers surprisingly cut back on spending in July, intensifying concerns about weak domestic demand, according to government data released on Friday. Household expenditures dropped 3.6% compared to the same month last year, marking the steepest decline in three and a half years and the eighth consecutive decline.
While consumers increased spending on entertainment and household goods, they saved more on food and transportation, analysts attribute this to rising living costs. Masato Koike, a senior economist at Sompo Institute Plus, stated that despite achieving high wage increases in this year's spring negotiations, the pressure on consumption is likely to increase as higher prices will hit harder in the future.
The data is closely watched by the Bank of Japan, which is considering a possible interest rate hike this month. Tokyo's core inflation, a leading indicator of nationwide development, accelerated for the third month in a row in August. Additionally, the yen strengthened and stocks declined as Japan and the United States jointly intervened in the foreign exchange market.
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