JAPAN HOUSEHOLD SPENDING FALLS FOR SECOND MONTH IN TEST FOR BOJ POLICY

Japanese household spending fell in September for the second straight month, government data showed on Friday, as higher prices choked consumers' appetite in a discouraging sign for the central bank's plans to hike rates further.

Consumer spending fell 1.1% from the year earlier, against the median market forecast for a 2.1% decline. On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, it fell 1.3%, versus an estimated 0.7% drop.

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