Household spending in Japan rose 1.8% yoy in September 2025, missing market estimates of 2.5% and easing from a 2.3% growth in the prior month. Despite the moderation, it marked the fifth straight month of increase in personal expenditure, indicating a continued, though slower, recovery in consumer activity. Expenditures grew at milder pace for transportation & communication (11.5% vs 13.5% in August) and culture & recreation (6.4% vs 12.2%). Simultaneously, spending was weak for food (-0.5% vs -1.2%), housing (-7.0% vs -0.7%), fuel, light & water charges (-2.4% vs 4.7%), education (-6.0% vs 16.9%), and clothing & footwear (-7.4% vs 5.4%). In contrast, expenditures accelerated for medical care (11.1% vs 1.7%) while rebounded for furniture & household items (0.5% vs -6.8%). On a monthly basis, personal spending fell 0.7%, reversing a 0.6% rise in August and marking the first decline in three months.