By Stanley White and Izumi Nakagawa
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese retail sales were effectively flat in February as consumers cut back on food and durable goods after employers offered the lowest spring wage increases in four years.
Retail sales rose 0.1 percent in February from a year ago, well below the median estimate for a 0.5 percent annual increase, and much less than year-on-year growth of 1.0 percent in January.
The anemic figures raise further doubt about the strength of private consumption, emphasizing how difficult it will be for Japan's economy to generate sustained wage growth and price inflation, as envisaged in the government's "Abenomics" policies.
"I was expecting consumption to pick up in January-March, but so far things look weak," said Hidenobu Tokuda, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute.
"This reflects concerns that wages this year won't rise as fast as last year. Some people are also feeling the pinch from higher energy prices."
The data showed that spending on foodstuffs fell an annual 1.5 percent in February, the first decline in five months.
Spending on durable goods fell an annual 2.2 percent in February versus a 0.8 percent annual decline in the previous month.
Spending on general daily goods fell 5.1 percent from a year ago, considerably faster than January's a 2.9 percent annual decline.
Most major Japanese companies offered their lowest increase in base pay in four years at annual spring wage negotiations this year in a setback to consumer spending and overall economic activity.
In addition, a rise in crude oil prices last year and a falling currency have pushed up prices of gasoline, which is also starting to hurt consumer sentiment.