Household spending rebounds at end of 1Q

More activity: Customers are seen buying food at a Takeya Co store in Tokyo. Spending advanced 4.1% in March from February. —Bloomberg

TOKYO: Japan’s household spending climbed for the first time in three months in March as virus restrictions were lifted across the nation, offering some support for private consumption at the end of a bruising quarter for the economy.

Outlays advanced 4.1% from February, led by spending on transport, communications and clothing, the ministry of internal affairs reported yesterday. Spending was still down from a year earlier, but not by as much as expected.