[How Inflation Changed Couples' Dining] A Tendency to Cut 'Drinking Parties' by 11% and Increase 'Petit Dining Out'

Coinciding with the announcement of the 2025 Consumer Price Index (annual average +2.7%, rising for the 5th consecutive year) released today (April 24, 2026) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, SmartBank Inc., which operates the household management service 'One Bank', analyzed the data of approximately 60,000 pairs of users who use the 'One Bank Pair Card' as a joint account for 'food'-related payments. By comparing the average monthly payments of the same users in fiscal 2024 and 2025, we present how the dining table and eating-out behaviors of couples and married partners have changed amid continuous inflation. - The number of payments at 'Izakayas and Bars' (monthly average) dropped significantly by 11.0% year-on-year, the only major decrease among the surveyed categories. This is about double the reduction rate of all One Bank Card users (minus 5.8%), highlighting the savings behavior on drinking parties by couples sharing household finances. - On the other hand, the number of payments at 'Cafes and Fast Food' (monthly average) increased by 13.1% year-on-year. The unit price also rose by 4.9%, suggesting that 'petit dining out as a household', such as family lunches and cafe dates, has taken root. - The number of payments in the 'Bakery, Deli, and Prepared Foods' category almost doubled at +90.5%. The demand for 'nakashoku' (home meal replacements)—'neither dining out nor cooking at home'—is expanding. Shifting from 'Drinking Parties' to 'Petit Dining Out' For 'Pair Card' users who share household finances as couples, the monthly average number of payments at 'Izakayas and Bars' in fiscal 2025 decreased by 11.0% compared to 2024. This is about twice the decrease rate for all categories (-5.8%). The behavior of curbing high-cost drinking party expenses is more evident among couples who visualize and share their household finances. Meanwhile, in addition to a 13.1% increase in payment volume for 'Cafes and Fast Food', the unit price per payment also rose by 4.9%. While the overall unit price was nearly flat (+0.6%), the Pair Card demographic saw an increase in household-level usage, likely 'lunch dates' or 'family visits to family restaurants/burger joints', leading to higher payment amounts per transaction. Expenditure Category | Payment Volume (YoY) | Payment Unit Price (YoY) | Interpretation 🍺 Bars/Izakayas | -11.0% | +2.3% | The only significant decrease. Married/family demographics feel a larger impact when cutting drinking parties. 🍔 Fast Food/Cafes | +13.1% | +4.9% | Payment amount per transaction rises due to family lunches and dining with children. 🍽️ General Restaurants | +9.8% | +2.1% | Dining out as a family is steadily maintained. 🥐 Bakery/Deli/Prepared Foods | +90.5% | -14.2% | 'Buy and take home' nakashoku is expanding rapidly. Affordability and convenience are favored. Additionally, the number of payments in the 'Bakery/Deli/Prepared Foods' category nearly doubled at +90.5%. The unit price dropped by 14.2%, indicating a rapid surge in 'purchasing everyday deli items and bread rather than high-priced goods' at bakeries, department store basement delis, and Japanese sweets shops. A picture emerges of a new form of dining taking root: busy dual-income couples facing situations where they 'have neither the money nor the time to dine out, but lack the energy to cook', choosing the 'nakashoku' option of buying deli foods and bread from supermarkets and specialty stores to take home. ■ Data Overview Target: Approximately 60,000 pairs who continuously used the One Bank Pair Card* in both FY2024 and FY2025 (with food-related expenditures). Aggregation Method: Calculated the monthly average number of payments and average amount per payment for each fiscal year (Pair Card payments only). Note: Part of the year-on-year changes in volume might be due to users adopting the One Bank Card (Visa prepaid card) as their main lifestyle card. * What is the 'One Bank Pair Card' (Official website: https://onebank.jp/card/pair/ ) The One Bank Pair Card is an app-linked service provided by the household management service 'One Bank' that allows couples to manage a joint account using two Visa prepaid cards. By pre-charging a shared balance from either person's app, whenever a payment is made with either card, it is reflected in the payment history. Feature 1: Deposits, withdrawals, and balance transfers to the joint account are completed within the app. Operations can be done by either person. Feature 2: Regardless of which card is used for payment, the usage history is notified to both parties in real-time, allowing for natural continuation of household finance visualization. Feature 3: Can be used together with family or partners, regardless of marital status. ■ What is the Household Management Service 'One Bank' One Bank (formerly B/43) is a next-generation household management app that allows you to easily record daily expenses and continue without stress. By issuing a Visa prepaid card, you can use it for cashless payments, allowing you to shop safely while preventing overspending. The simple household account book is equipped with AI, supporting everything from receipt organization to improvement suggestions.