Japan’s household spending rose 1.5% month-over-month in February 2026, marking a clear rebound after a sharp decline at the start of the year. The latest data, updated on 6 April 2026, follows a -2.5% month-on-month drop in January 2026.
The shift from a 2.5% contraction to 1.5% growth suggests that consumer activity stabilized and partially recovered after a weak January. On a month-over-month basis, the current figure reflects spending in February compared with January, while the previous reading captured the change in January relative to December.
Although the February increase does not fully offset January’s fall, the positive reading indicates that households have resumed spending momentum, a potentially encouraging sign for Japan’s domestic demand outlook early in 2026.
