According to the Japan Department Stores Association, last month's sales at department stores nationwide exceeded the same month of the previous year by 20.2% compared to existing stores, marking the seventh consecutive month of positive growth.
Sales of high-priced items such as jewelry and works of art exceeded the previous year's level for 20 consecutive months in the absence of movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a factor.
Sales were down more than 23% compared to three years ago, when there was a last-minute surge in demand before the consumption tax hike before the spread of the infection, but a recovery trend can be seen.
On the other hand, regarding the impact of the drastic relaxation of border measures against the new coronavirus, the Japan Department Stores Association said, ``Currently, the number of tourists from overseas, mainly in urban stores, has increased rapidly, and among them, duty-free sales in Tokyo have decreased compared to last year. It's about three to five times higher than it was during the same period.However, we need tourists from China to return in order to fully recover to pre-corona levels."