Sales Of Japanese Department Stores Declined In September

According to a survey by financial information media company Market News International, the overall sales volume of Japanese department stores declined in September compared with the same period last year, which is 1.7% lower than that of August.

In August, sales continued to decline for the two consecutive month, down 0.1% in July and 0.3% in June.

Of the 7 chain stores in the survey, only two sales in September showed year-on-year growth, while the other 5 said their sales had declined.

This is worse than August. In August, 3 department stores grew, 3 fell, and 1 did not change.

A spokesman for the survey said sales fell in September because two strong typhoons hit most of Japan, while the relatively high temperatures in the first half of the month also affected autumn sales.

A spokesman for some department stores also said that consumers' purchasing power is still strong regardless of weather effects.

A spokesman for Takashimaya said that sales of jewellery and other luxury goods rose by 4.8% in September this year, while sales of other goods fell by 1.8%.

Luxury sales accounted for all of Japan last year.

At the same time, in the first half of October, department store sales showed signs of recovery, as the weather turned cold, stimulating demand for autumn and winter clothes.

Sales of clothing accounted for 35% of the total sales of all department stores in Japan last year.

In from October 1st to 13th, 4 of the 6 department stores appeared.

Another favorable news for department stores is that the number of overseas tourists who have been reduced by Fukushima radiation is slowly increasing.

A spokesman for Matsuya said that in from October 1st to 10th, sales of overseas tourists dropped by 35% over the same period last year, which is gradually improving compared to 44% in September and 70% in August.

But things are not always what they want.

A spokesman for J.Front retail companies, a two department store with big balls and sakamoya, said that because the yen will continue to grow and the global economic growth is slow, it may affect domestic demand, so he still worries about the recent sales prospects.

Japan's cabinet office said it aimed at the current economy.