(RTTNews) - The unemployment rate in Japan came in at 5.1 percent in December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday, standing at 3.17 million people.

That was better than forecasts for 5.3 percent after the rate was 5.2 percent in November. The job-to-applicant ratio ticked up to 0.46, matching forecasts after coming in at 0.45 in November.

Also, household spending was up 2.1 percent on year in December, topping forecasts for a 1.6 percent annual increase after adding 2.2 percent a month earlier.