TOKYO (MNI) – Sales at supermarkets in Japan open for at least a
year fell 0.3% in October from a year earlier to Y1.009 trillion as
relatively high temperatures hit sales of clothing and consumers
remained frugal, an industry group said on Monday.
It was the 23nd consecutive year-on-year drop in supermarket sales
following -0.3% in September, the Japan Chain Stores Association said.
The last y/y rise in sales was +0.6% marked in November 2008.
Sales of food in October were unchanged from a year earlier, after
showing +1.2% in September, the first on-year rise in 20 months.
The figures are based on the combined sales at 62 supermarket
chains which together operate 7,872 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 2.5% from a year earlier in October, down for the 35th
consecutive month, after falling 2.7% in 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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