Japanese households sharply lifted spending in May, offering a rare bright spot for an economy grappling with export-sector headwinds from U.S. tariffs. Government data released Friday showed real consumption by households with two or more people climbed 4.7% from a year earlier—beating the median 1.2% forecast and marking the quickest expansion since August 2022. On a seasonally adjusted basis, outlays rose 4.6% from April. The Internal Affairs ministry said the average household spent 316,085 yen ($2,000), with demand for automobiles, package tours and restaurant meals leading the gains. The rebound followed hefty pay deals secured during this year’s spring wage negotiations and comes after a modest fall in April. Stronger consumption may relieve some pressure on the Bank of Japan, which is assessing how soon it can lift interest rates without derailing growth. Economists cautioned that the momentum could falter if higher U.S. import duties—which took effect in April and are set to rise further this month—begin to weigh on corporate earnings, bonuses and consumer sentiment.