63% of Japanese say they are in financial stress,

A record 63.2% of respondents in a government survey in Japan said they do not feel financially secure and have a negative outlook on their future, El.kz citesAnadolu.

Compared to 2022, the proportion of people who faced financial stress in 2023 rose 0.7 percentage points against the backdrop of rising prices, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported Sunday, citing a Cabinet Office poll.

Over 57% of some 3,000 people age 18 or older responded to the latest poll, which was done last November and December.

Some 28.6% complained of difficulties in child-rearing, followed by 28.2% saying it is hard for young people to be independent.

Some 26.2% feel it is difficult for women to play active roles in society, while 25.8% said they are dissatisfied with their work environment.

According to 69.4% of respondents, inflation is pushing the country in a negative direction, while a significant percentage of people expressed concern over the economy.

In 2023, Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.1%, the fastest pace of increase in 41 years.

In contrast, real wages fell 2.5% in the year for the second straight year of decline, as government data showed salary hikes failed to match inflation.

A separate private-sector poll done in November showed that over 46% of regular workers from dual-income households in the world's fourth-largest economy said they are struggling financially.

On the positive side, the Cabinet Office poll found 25.1% of respondents saying that medical and welfare services are heading in a better direction.

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