Retail sales have fallen for the seventh consecutive month as low consumer footfall; bans on travel and cautious spending continue to impact Japan’s retail economy.
Government data has shown that retail sales have fallen 8.7 per cent in September in comparison with the same period last year. Customers continue to be cautious of their spending and this month spending on cars, consumer appliances and clothing declined, impacting the overall figures for the month.
Total sales in Department stores for the month of September reached $3.18bn however department stores continue to be hard hit and sales in these locations fell 33.6 per cent from the same period last year.
Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Japan’s largest department store operator commented that September comparable sales across its five locations in the Tokyo City area dropped by 35.5 per cent.
Another major department store chain Takashimaya commented that sales across its 15 department stores in Japan have dropped 36.1 per cent in September in comparison with the same period in 2019.
