A record 63.2 percent of respondents in Japan said in a survey conducted by the government that they do not feel financially secure and have a negative view of their future.
Compared with 2022, the proportion of people facing financial stress in 2023 increased by 0.7 percentage points as a result of rising prices, Kyodo News reported on Sunday.
More than 28 percent complained about difficulties in raising children, and 28.2 stated that it is difficult for young people to be independent.
More than 26 percent believe that it is difficult for women to play active roles in society, while 25.8 percent are dissatisfied with their working environment.
According to 69.4 percent of respondents, inflation is pushing Japan in a negative direction, while a significant percentage of people expressed concern about the economy.
In 2023, core consumer prices in Japan rose 3.1 percent, the fastest pace of growth in 41 years.
By contrast, real wages fell by 2.5 percent for the second year in a row, and official data showed that wage increases failed to keep up with inflation, AA writes.
