TOKYO (MNI) – Department store sales in Japan fell 1.7% in August
from a year earlier, posting the second straight y/y drop as cool
weather late last month dampened summer clothing demand, data released
by the Japan Department Stores Association showed on Tuesday.
The y/y sales drop was also because there was one less Sunday last
month compared with August last year.
The August figure followed -0.1% in July, +0.3% in June, -2.4% in
May, -1.5% in April and -14.7% in March.
Unstable weather conditions and lower temperatures in the second
half of August pushed down clothing sales by 3.4% on year.
The association compiles data from 86 companies running 253
department stores that have been open for at least a year prior to the
survey being conducted. The data are adjusted to facilitate comparisons
on a same-store basis.
In Tokyo, combined sales at 25 department stores fell 2.9% y/y in
August, also posting the second straight y/y fall.
tokyo@marketnews.com
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