TOKYO (MNI) – Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a
year fell 4.9% in April from a year earlier to Y1.01 trillion as
consumers remained frugal amid a slow recovery in wage growth and job
creation, an industry group said on Monday.
Many rainy days and unusually low temperatures in the month (it
snowed as late as April 17) hit sales of spring and summer clothing
among other goods, Japan Chain Stores Association said.
It was the 17th consecutive year-on-year drop in supermarket sales
following -6.6% in March. The last y/y rise in sales was +0.6% marked in
November 2008.
The figures are based on the combined sales at 62 supermarket
chains which together operate 7,877 outlets. The numbers have been
adjusted to facilitate comparison on a same-store basis.
Including sales at stores newly opened during the past year,
revenue fell 5.5% from a year earlier in April, down for the 29th
consecutive month after falling 6.7% the previous month. The last time
sales under this category rose was in November 2007 (+0.5% y/y).
tokyo@marketnews.com
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