JAPAN DATA: Department store sales in Japan rose 0.7% from a year
earlier to Y433.2 billion in February on higher demand for clothing and
food, posting the first y/y rise in four months after falling 1.1% in
January, data released by the Japan Department Stores Association showed
today. The association compiled data from 90 companies running 258
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 26 department stores
rose 1.7% on year, posting the second consecutive y/y rise, after rising
1.4% in January.