Japan Dec Department Store Sales +0.8%, 1st Rise In 6 Months

TOKYO (MNI) – Department store sales in Japan rose 0.8% in December
to Y731.8 billion, posting the first year-on-year rise in six months,
data released by the Japan Department Stores Association showed on
Thursday.

The association said the increase was led by strong demand for
winter clothing amid low temperatures and continued solid sales of
luxury goods. There were five Saturdays in the month, one more than a
year earlier, and many sunny days, which also supported overall sales.

The association compiles data from 86 companies running 254
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.

For the whole of 2011, department store sales totaled Y6.15
trillion, down 2.0% on the year, with the pace of decline decelerating
from -3.1% in 2010 and -10.1% in 2009.

In Tokyo, combined sales at 26 department stores rose 0.3% y/y in
December, posting the first rise in six months.

tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **

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