According to the Japan Department Stores Association, same-store sales at member stores throughout Japan in 2016 decreased by 2.9% compared to the previous year to 5,978,013 million yen.
Sales decreased for the second straight year, and it was the first time in 36 years that sales were below 6 trillion yen.
Inbound sales declined by 5.3% to approximately 184.3 billion yen, although foreign shoppers climbed 18.5% to about 2.97 million.
Apparel sales fell 5.8% to 1,893,306 million yen, thus falling for the third consecutive year. Sales decreased across the board with men’s wear decreasing by 5.3% to 400,322 million yen, women’s wear by 6.3% to 1,212,245 million yen, children’s wear by 3.9% to 144,501 million yen, and other garments by 5.0% to 136,237,302 million yen.