Japan department stores see sales ease
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Department-store sales in Japan fell 1.4 per cent last month on a same-store basis because of weak clothing and food sales, reports the Japan Department Stores Association.
Sales at 229 stores run by 80 companies totalled ¥547 billion (US$5 billion), says the association. Sales decreased as most of the stores had moved their summer sale period to June, pushing down sales of clothes that would have sold well in July during a discount period.
Accounting for 29.8 per cent of overall sales, the clothing category declined 5 per cent while there was a 2 per cent drop for food items, furniture and other home-use items.
Among 10 major cities, Nagoya recorded the highest fall, 4.8 per cent, and Hiroshima a 3.4 per cent drop from July last year.
Questions & Answers
Q.What was the total value of sales recorded by Japan's department stores last month?
What was the total value of sales recorded by Japan's department stores last month?
Sales at the 229 stores operated by 80 companies totalled ¥547 billion. This figure is equivalent to US$5 billion and represents a decline compared to the previous year, as reported by the Japan Department Stores Association.
Q.Which product categories contributed most to the overall decline in sales?
Which product categories contributed most to the overall decline in sales?
Weak clothing and food sales were the primary drivers of the decline. Clothing, which makes up 29.8 per cent of total sales, dropped by 5 per cent, while food items saw a 2 per cent decrease in sales.
Q.Why did clothing sales decrease last month?
Why did clothing sales decrease last month?
Most department stores had moved their summer sale period to June. This shift meant that clothing items which would typically have sold well during July's discount period were instead sold earlier, impacting last month's figures.
Q.Which major cities experienced the most significant sales drops?
Which major cities experienced the most significant sales drops?
Among the 10 major cities mentioned, Nagoya recorded the highest fall in sales, decreasing by 4.8 per cent. Hiroshima also saw a considerable drop of 3.4 per cent compared to July of last year.