The Japan Department Stores Association released a summary of nationwide department store sales for June. Total sales for the nation's 85 department stores (243 stores) totaled approximately 516.7 billion yen, up 7.2% from the same month last year. This marks the second consecutive month of month-on-month increases, with the three-month rolling average for April-June also showing a 3.1% increase.
By region, the 10 cities of Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka all saw a 9.3% increase, marking their sixth consecutive month of increases. Tokyo saw strong growth of 9.4%, Osaka 15.5%, and Nagoya 10.5%. Regions other than the 10 cities of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu all saw a 3.2% increase, their first increase in three months.
The strong performance was due to warm temperatures and favorable weather nationwide. While precipitation was heavy in eastern and western Japan in the latter half of the month, precipitation nationwide was below average. Additionally, one more holiday compared to the same month last year and the fact that many stores brought forward their summer sales, which started in July last year, to June also contributed to the favorable impact. The weak yen also had a significant impact on the expansion of foreign visitors to Japan since the beginning of the year, with sales and customer numbers doubling this month. As a result, core summer fashion items recorded double-digit growth. High-priced items such as jewelry, luxury watches, and luxury brands continued to sell well, and early orders for the mid-year gift sales season remained strong. Sales by product category saw increases for the eighth consecutive month for personal items (14.0%) and miscellaneous goods (9.1%), as well as for clothing (10.5%), household goods (6.3%), and food (1.3%), all of which posted increases for the second consecutive month. All categories posted increases for the second consecutive month. Department store mainstay products, women's clothing and accessories (11.5%) and men's clothing and accessories (7.5%), have increased for two consecutive months. Art, jewelry, and precious metals (16.3%) have also maintained their strong performance, increasing for the 10th consecutive month. Children's clothing and accessories (15.2%) and other miscellaneous goods (3.6%) have increased for the first time in three months, and other food products (1.6%) have increased for the first time in five months.
By region, the 10 cities of Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka all saw a 9.3% increase, marking their sixth consecutive month of increases. Tokyo saw strong growth of 9.4%, Osaka 15.5%, and Nagoya 10.5%. Regions other than the 10 cities of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu all saw a 3.2% increase, their first increase in three months.
The strong performance was due to warm temperatures and favorable weather nationwide. While precipitation was heavy in eastern and western Japan in the latter half of the month, precipitation nationwide was below average. Additionally, one more holiday compared to the same month last year and the fact that many stores brought forward their summer sales, which started in July last year, to June also contributed to the favorable impact. The weak yen also had a significant impact on the expansion of foreign visitors to Japan since the beginning of the year, with sales and customer numbers doubling this month. As a result, core summer fashion items recorded double-digit growth. High-priced items such as jewelry, luxury watches, and luxury brands continued to sell well, and early orders for the mid-year gift sales season remained strong. Sales by product category saw increases for the eighth consecutive month for personal items (14.0%) and miscellaneous goods (9.1%), as well as for clothing (10.5%), household goods (6.3%), and food (1.3%), all of which posted increases for the second consecutive month. All categories posted increases for the second consecutive month. Department store mainstay products, women's clothing and accessories (11.5%) and men's clothing and accessories (7.5%), have increased for two consecutive months. Art, jewelry, and precious metals (16.3%) have also maintained their strong performance, increasing for the 10th consecutive month. Children's clothing and accessories (15.2%) and other miscellaneous goods (3.6%) have increased for the first time in three months, and other food products (1.6%) have increased for the first time in five months.
