Household spending rose for the ninth straight month in August, offering some relief for Japan's export-dependent economy amid weak global demand and the protracted U.S.-China trade war.
But separate data released Tuesday showed wages fell for the eighth consecutive month, pointing to further strains on consumers ahead of the increase in the consumption tax on Oct. 1.
The mixed readings will keep policymakers under pressure to announce more fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to shield the economy from recession, analysts say.
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