TOKYO (MNI) – Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a
year fell 1.4% in June from a year earlier to Y1.01 trillion as
consumers remained frugal amid continued severe labor and income
conditions, an industry group said on Thursday.
It was the 19th consecutive year-on-year drop in supermarket sales
following -5.3% in May. The last y/y rise in sales was +0.6% marked in
November 2008.
But the year-on-year drop narrowed as sales of clothing posted the
first y/y rise in 54 months in the wake of heat waves, Japan Chain
Stores Association said.
The figures are based on the combined sales at 62 supermarket
chains which together operate 7,859 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 3.5% from a year earlier in June, down for the 31th
consecutive month after falling 6.2% 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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