According to the Japan Department Stores Association, August nationwide sales on a same store basis (81 firms, 236 stores) decreased by 6.0% compared to the same month of last year to 409,238 million yen., thus decreasing for six consecutive months.
In addition to unseasonable weather, the department stores were unable to attract shoppers to their stores as the season was changing from summer to autumn, which resulted in a decrease in the number of shoppers. Holidays were also one day less.Among the eighteen cities and areas, sales increased only for Hokkaido (up 8.2%).
August sales of apparel and accessories fell 10.7% to 110,595 million yen: women’s wear, 72,401 million yen (down 10.9%); men’s wear, 20,163 million yen (down 9.6%); and children’s wear, 8,083 million yen (down 12.7%).
