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Japan consumer spending rises in April for first time in 14 months
Japanese household spending rose for the first time in 14 months in April from the year earlier, data showed on Friday, although the tepid growth showed consumers remained reluctant to loosen their purse-strings in the face of higher prices. Consumer spending rose 0.5 per cent in April from a year earlier, data from the internal affairs ministry showed. That was slightly below the median market forecast for a 0.6 per cent uptick. On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, spending fell 1.2 per cent, versus an estimated 0.2 per cent rise. Sluggish private consumption is a source of concern for policymakers ... (full story)