Sales at department stores in Tokyo logged a year-on-year decline of 5.7 percent in July on a same-store basis, dropping to 192.28 billion yen, according to a report released Thursday by the Japan Department Stores Association.
This marks the eighth monthly fall in a row, the association said.
The association attributed the figures to the effects on shopping of two typhoons, the fact that July had fewer weekend days than July 2001, along with weak demand from large-lot clients for household items.
Demand for summer items was also sluggish during the reporting month, with sales campaigns having been brought forward to May and June, it said.
Clothing sales, the largest commodity sector in terms of department store merchandise, fell 4.1 percent to 68.80 billion yen, the fourth consecutive monthly decline.
Sales of food, another major category, fell 5.3 percent to 53.64 billion yen, while household goods sank 16.8 percent to 12.73 billion yen, it said.
Regarding the latter, furniture sales plunged 26.5 percent as some department stores spun off related divisions, the association said.
Sales of home electric appliances sagged 15.4 percent, reflecting weak demand among large-lot customers, it said.
The report covered sales at 28 outlets run by 13 department stores in Tokyo's 23 wards.
Sales of watches and other sundry goods dropped 7.1 percent to 25.12 billion yen, while sales of personal goods such as accessories and shoes also fell, by 2.7 percent, to 21.25 billion yen.