Sales at convenience stores nationwide in August fell by 1.9% from the same month last year, the first time in six months, due to a drop in the number of customers due to the expansion of the area covered by the state of emergency due to measures against the new coronavirus. It was below the previous year.
According to the Japan Franchise Association, sales of convenience stores nationwide in August totaled 897.2 billion yen for existing stores that have been open for over a year, down 1.9% from the same month last year.
It is the first time in six months since February that sales have fallen below the previous year.
This is mainly due to the fact that the area covered by the state of emergency has expanded nationwide due to the worsening infection situation of the new coronavirus, and the number of customers visiting the store has dropped due to the effects of heavy rain.
However, the purchase price per customer is the so-called “needing demand”, and sales of fried foods and alcoholic beverages increased by 5% from the same month last year.
On the other hand, compared to August, before the spread of the infection, despite the increase in the number of stores, overall sales have declined, and the impact on sales at the Coronavirus continues.
According to the Japan Franchise Association, "The temperature was low in August, and the lack of sales of ice cream, which is a standard summer product, also affected sales."