Japan's June household spending steady but real wages cloud outlook

Tokyo

JAPAN'S household spending rose for a seventh straight month in June, amid signs resilient consumer activity could help counter the effects of weak global demand, although the consumption outlook was clouded by softer wages.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is hopeful that a pick-up in private consumption will help it achieve its 2 per cent inflation target even as an intensifying US-China trade war hurts exports and business sentiment.