Consumer prices climb in Japan, retail sales fall

[August 30, 2013]  TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's economic recovery gained momentum in July, as manufacturing accelerated and consumer prices rose for a second straight month, despite weaker household spending and retail sales.

The data released Friday showed the consumer price index rose 0.7 percent in July from a year earlier, for the second straight month of gains. That suggests efforts to break free of years of demand-dampening deflation are progressing. The CPI rose 0.2 percent in June.

However, the core index, which excludes food and energy prices, fell 0.1 percent.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said industrial output rose 1.6 percent from a year earlier but 3.2 percent from the month before, in a sign the recovery is taking hold. It forecasts further expansion in August and September.

"Income and other data show quite positive signs of recovery," said Junko Nishioka, an economist at RBS Japan Securities. "I'm relatively optimistic about the Japanese economy."

The government has boosted spending and pushed for ultra-loose monetary policies aimed at generating inflation. It says that will help perk up demand and, in response, investment and employment, ending years of stagnation. However, economists say that without matching increases in wages, rising prices and planned tax hikes could actually weaken the consumer demand that accounts for the bulk of business activity, undermining any economic rebound.

Average household spending fell 1.4 percent in July from a year earlier, despite slight improvements in income and the jobless rate, which fell to 3.8 percent from 3.9 percent the month before.

Retail sales fell 0.3 percent in July from a year earlier for the first decline in three months. Sales of clothing and other items sagged, while food sales rose.

The relatively overall data from July will likely bolster support for pushing ahead with a sales tax planned for April 1, 2014. A decision on that plan is due within the next month.

The anticipated 3 percent increase in the nationwide sales tax, to 8 percent, will undoubtedly be a blow, Ishioka said, but she expects it to be short-lived given the current relatively favorable trends.

"People's sentiment is improving. I think the fundamental conditions are OK," she said.

[Associated Press; By ELAINE KURTENBACH]

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