The Japan Chain Stores Association (57 firms, 9,422 stores) reported that total sales on a same store basis decreased by 3.2% from the same month of last year to 1,008,719 million yen, thus decreasing for the second consecutive month.
By category, sales decreased across the board. Sales of apparel and household goods were affected by unseasonable weather, and food sales also registered a decrease of 1.3%.
Apparel sales fell 11.3% to 75,555 million yen. Apparel sales decreased in all major categories, and the decrease was particularly sharp for women’s wear (down 17.2% to 21,914 million yen). In women’s wear, mannish suits, cut leggings and bottoms sold well, whereas jackets, blouses, cut & sewn articles and casual pants were in a stagnant condition.
Men’s wear sales declined by 9.4% to 12,851 million yen. Sales were strong for lightweight garment articles, poloshirts and T-shirts, but those of jackets, slacks, casual pants and shirts as well as knitted shirts were slow.
Sales of other types of garments and accessories decreased by 8.4% to 40,789 million yen. Men’s and children’s underwear and children’s shoes enjoyed strong sales, while sales of women’s and men’s pajamas, children’s and babies’ wear were slow.
Sales of interior-related items were slow for down futons, futon mattresses and carpets.