USD/JPY Trading Higher, Spending Slips

USD/JPY is trading at 102.24, up 0.41 The pair is trading just under the highs of the session. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that year over year household spending in July slipped 0.5 percent versus June's year over year decline of 2.2 percent. On the month spending rose 2.5 percent versus the 1.1 fall in June. Japan's unemployment rate improved to 3 percent from 3.1 percent in June. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry reported that year over year retail sales for July declined 0.2 percent versus the 1.3 decline in June. On the month retail sales rose 1.4 percent in July versus an upwardly revised 0.3 percent decline in June.