Japanese household spending fell in November, government data showed on Friday, weighed down by stubbornly high prices that dissuaded consumers from loosening their purse strings.

Japan’s households cut consumption for a fourth month as inflation continues to weigh on their purchasing power, showing an economic fragility that’s likely to keep the Bank of Japan cautious about additional rate hikes.

Japanese household spending fell 0.4% in November from a year earlier, internal affairs ministry data showed on Friday. That compared with the median market forecast for a 0.6% decline. On a seasonally adjusted,