TOKYO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Japan's household spending in July rose a real 1.4 percent from a year earlier, the third straight monthly increase, government data showed Friday.

Households of two or more people spent an average of 305,694 yen (about 2,063 U.S. dollars) in the reporting month, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, the average household spending was up 1.7 percent in July.

A ministry official said the gain was driven by a rise in electricity bills and automobile expenses, while food expenditure declined amid inflation, noting the recovery in consumer spending was not robust.

Accounting for more than half of Japan's gross domestic product, household spending is a key gauge of private consumption in the country. ■