— Japan March Supermarket Sales -2.4% Y/Y Vs Feb +0.3%
— Supermarket Sales Post 1st Y/Y Fall In 2 Months
TOKYO (MNI) – Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a
year fell 2.4% in March from a year earlier to Y1.006 trillion, posting
the first y/y fall in two months, after +0.3% in February, an industry
group said Monday.
The organization said sales of foodstuffs, which account for 60% of
overall sales, slumped 4.3%, compared with a 3.5% rise in March 2011,
when the earthquake and nuclear meltdown prompted rush purchases of
emergency food and water, the Japan Chain Stores Association said.
In February, supermarket sales marked the first y/y gain in seven
months on the leap-year effects and solid winter clothing sales.
The latest figures are based on the combined sales at 57
supermarket chains which together operate 7,742 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 0.5% in March after +4.6% in February.
Meanwhile, supermarket sales in fiscal 2011 that ended on March 31
fell 1.1% to Y12.78 trillion, posting the 15th straight annual drop,
after -1.4% in fiscal 2010.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
