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Japan department store sales down 11.3% in April

May 19, 2009
By Ken Worsley


According to data released yesterday by the Japan Department Store Association, sales at department stores nationwide fell 11.3% in April, marking the fourteenth consecutive month of decline. The survey covered sales at 97 department store operators with 274 shops - 3 fewer shops than existed the previous month.

Here is the breakdown of sales by individual categories:

  • Clothing: 38.0% of total sales, down 13.5%
  • Personal Effects: 12.8% of total sales, down 14.1%
  • Miscellaneous Goods: 14.6% of total sales, down 14.6%
  • Household Goods: 5.2% of total sales, down 16.2%
  • Food: 23.4% of total sales, down 4.8%
  • Services: 1.2% of total sales, down 1.7%
  • Other: 2.0% of total sales, up 15.3%
  • Gift Certificates: 3.5% of total sales, down 14.0%

The only category seeing an increase in April was “other” - perhaps it’s time for department stores to start selling more “other.” Clothing sales have now declined for 22 straight months, as has the sale of gift certificates. Sales of fine art and jewelry have declined for 26 consecutive months, while sales of personal effects have declined for twenty months in a row.

Further contributing to lower sales is the fact that sales per customer declined in April, as department stores have offered discounts in an attempt to entice shoppers.

Still, despite the recent uptick in consumer confidence, something appears profoundly rotten with the way department stores continue their downward spiral. Some industry insiders are hoping that government cash handouts will help boost May sales. Although it should be interesting to see what effect these cash handouts have on department store sales over the coming months, they are by no means anything approaching a cure for what ails the department store sector.

Filed Under Department Stores, Economic Reports 

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Comments

2 Responses to “Japan department store sales down 11.3% in April”

  1. Matt on May 22nd, 2009 8:56 am

    *cough* bizcast *cough*

  2. Ken Worsley on May 22nd, 2009 2:17 pm

    Matt…I know…it’s way overdue. With any luck we’ll get together this weekend and record.

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