Sales at Tokyo department stores rose 0.3 percent in July from a year earlier to 203.8 billion yen for the second straight monthly gain, as store renovations and clearance sales generated demand, an industry group said Tuesday.
The increase, adjusted for changes in the number of shops, was down from the 3.8 percent rise in June, given that there was one less Saturday in July compared to the year before, the Japan Department Stores Association said.
Sales of clothing, which comprise the largest share of overall sales, dropped 0.8 percent compared to the 3.5 percent rise in June. Despite a wave of summer clearance sales, demand for summer clothes weakened during the latter part of the month.
Sales of food, the second largest share of overall sales, slipped 0.6 percent for the first fall in seven months. This reflected earlier-than-usual orders for seasonal gifts, the industry group said.
The sales data cover 28 outlets operated by 13 department stores in Tokyo's 23 wards.