MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan November Household Spending -2.0% Y/Y

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's average monthly spending per household decreased 2.0%

on a yearly basis in November as a temporary post-tax hike drop flowed through

to consumers, a survey released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and

Communications showed Friday.

     --Spending by households with two or more people fell 2.0% y/y, following

the previous month's 5.1% drop. The decrease came in as faster than the MNI

survey median of a 1.8% y/y decline. 

     --November's pickup was a result of expanding expenditure on major items.

Spending on food rose 0.2% y/y, compared with October's 3.9% fall, and fuel,

lighting and water charges dropped 1.5% y/y, improving from the previous 4.6%

drop.

     --The average real income of households with salaried workers rose 1.9%

y/y, higher than the 0.5% y/y fall recorded in October, the survey showed. 

     --Japan's government didn't give an assessment of the household spending

outlook this month as the spending was temporarily hit by the drop in the sales

tax hike.

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

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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