TOKYO (MNI) – Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a
year fell 0.5% in November from a year earlier to Y1.014 trillion as
consumers remained frugal and relatively high temperatures in the later
half of the month hit sales of winter clothes, an industry group said on
Wednesday.
It was the 24th consecutive year-on-year drop in supermarket sales
following -0.3% in October, the Japan Chain Stores Association said.
The last y/y rise in sales was +0.6% in November 2008.
Sales of food in November fell 0.7% y/y, while those of clothes
declined 2.5%. In contrast, sales of household goods such as appliances
rose 1.4%, thanks to consumers’ rush buying of household electronics,
ahead of Dec. 1, when the government halved the reward points it offers
for buying TVs, air conditioners/heaters and refrigerators.
The figures are based on the combined sales at 62 supermarket
chains which together operate 7,889 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 1.8% from a year earlier in November, down for the 36th
consecutive month, after falling 2.5% 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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