Updated: 06/29/2012 19:46

Japan jobless rate dips to 4.4% in May

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Japan's jobless rate fell to 4.4 percent last month, while household spending jumped from a year ago.

The official jobless figure was lower than market's forecast of 4.5 percent.

Other data showed that Japan's household spending rose 4 percent on-year in May, well above expectations.

The internal affairs ministry also released consumer price figures showing inflation stood at minus 0.1 percent year-on-year in May.

That's the first price decrease this year.

The decrease came mainly from lower prices for electronic products.