JAPAN DATA: Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a year
fell 0.5% in November from a year earlier to Y1.014 trillion as
consumers remained frugal and relatively high temperatures in the later
half of the month hit sales of winter clothes, according to data
released today by the Japan Chain Stores Association. It was the 24th
consecutive year-on-year drop in supermarket sales following -0.3% in
October, the industry group says. The last y/y rise in sales was +0.6%
in November 2008.