Head of BOJ Says Consumer Spending "A Little Restrained"
BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui, in response to a Komeito lawmaker's question in the Budget Committee of Japan's House of Representatives, said that the slow pace of wage hikes has limited the increase in consumer outlays. With respect to the recent decision of the BOJ's policy board not to hike interest rates, Mr. Fukui said that the choice was made based on various indicators of the economy's strengths and weaknesses, with the focus on measures of consumer spending. He said he thought consumer spending would continue to receive the spotlight at the next policy board meeting on February 20.

Mr. Fukui also noted that the strength of recovery in small and medium-size business has been varied depending on the size of the company and other factors. 日経