Japan’s household spending falls again despite wage gains

Japan’s household spending fell for a ninth month even as wages continued to climb, showing consumers remain cautious as persistent inflation squeezes purchasing power.Outlays by households adjusted for inflation declined 3.1% in August from a year earlier, the internal affairs ministry reported Friday. Economists had forecast a 3.6% drop. Spending rose 0.1% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis.The latest evidence of fragile spending complicates the Bank of Japan’s communications as authorities stay…