MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Feb Household Spending Up 1.7% Y/Y

--Japan Household Spending +1.7% Y/Y; Forecast Median +2.1%

     TOKYO (MNI) - The average of monthly consumption expenditures per household

for February was Y296,345, up 1.7% on a yearly basis, a survey released by

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed on Friday.

     --Spending by households with two or more people rose 1.7%, slowing from

previous month's 2.0% growth and lower than MNI's survey median of 2.1%, posting

the third straight y/y rise. 

     --February's rise was driven by a pick-up in demand for durable goods,

which increased to +9.0% y/y from last month's +5.7%. Spending on transportation

and communication also made good contribution by increasing 6.7% y/y.

     --The average real income of households with salaried workers kept the last

rise by growing 0.1% y/y from January's 3.6%, the fourth straight month for an

increase. 

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MAJDS$,MAUDR$,MAUDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$,M$U$$$]