Japan department store sales slide 6.4% in November

December 21, 2008
By Ken Worsley

According to a report released by late last week by the Japan Department Store Association, sales at Japan’s 280 department stores fell 6.4% in November, to about 649.13 billion yen. Nationwide department store sales have now fallen for nine consecutive months, and there was one less shop in operation than last month.

Here is the breakdown of sales by individual categories:

* Clothing: 36.9% of total sales, down 9.1%
* Personal Effects: 11.2% of total sales, down 9.6%
* Miscellaneous Goods: 13.4% of total sales, down 9.5%
* Household Goods: 4.7% of total sales, down 14.5%
* Food: 28.7% of total sales, up 0.6%
* Services: 1.0% of total sales, down 0.6%
* Other: 1.6% of total sales, up 4.4%
* Gift Certificates: 4.1% of total sales, down 9.7%

Yet again, the only increase in a major category was seen in food sales. Sales of clothing, jewelry and artwork continue to slide as consumer sentiment remains at all-time lows.

In Tokyo itself, sales at the major 28 department stores dropped 7.2% from last year for the ninth consecutive month of decreased sales.

Filed Under Department Stores, Economic Reports, Retail