Last month's sales at department stores nationwide fell by more than 4% from the same month last year, the second consecutive month of decline, due to a decrease in customers due to refraining from going out due to a state of emergency.
According to the Japan Department Stores Association, last month's sales at 190 department stores nationwide fell 4.3% below the same month last year, the second consecutive month of decline.
By product, sales of high-priced items such as watches and jewelery slightly exceeded last year's sales, but the number of visitors decreased due to refraining from going out due to a state of emergency and restricting admission at some stores. So, sales of mainstay groceries decreased by 1% and clothing decreased by 5.6%.
Since the middle of last month, the association says that sales and attracting customers have been on a recovery trend as the number of infected people has decreased, and that trend has continued since the state of emergency was lifted earlier this month.
In addition to the autumn / winter clothing that is in full swing, each company plans to put more effort into selling year-end gifts, osechi, Christmas cakes, etc. toward the year-end and New Year holidays.
The Japan Department Store Association says, "We will strive to maintain a sales system where customers and employees can feel at ease and enter the year-end sales season."