January sales of major supermarkets nationwide exceeded the same month of the previous year for the fifth consecutive month due to strong sales of groceries while demand for so-called nesting was strong due to the corona disaster.
According to the announcement by the Japan Chain Stores Association, January sales of 11,917 stores nationwide were 1,019.1 billion yen, an increase of 4% from the same month of the previous year compared to existing stores. did.
Sales have exceeded the same month of the previous year for the fifth straight month.
By product, sales of groceries, which account for two-thirds of total sales, were strong, rising 0.8% from the previous year, while demand for nesting to eat at home due to corona was strong, and clothing sales were strong. Last year, the declaration of an emergency spread the movement to refrain from going out, and sales increased by 3.9% in reaction to the sluggish sales.
Atsushi Inoue, Managing Director of the Japan Chain Stores Association, said, "While sales are positive, consumers are becoming more frugal. Prices will rise due to rising energy prices and the depreciation of the yen, further cooling consumer sentiment. I'm worried that it might be. "