Department store sales in Tokyo edged up 0.1 percent in January from a year before to E64.60 billion for the third consecutive monthly rise, thanks in part to a cold wave early in the month that helped move winter clothing, an industry group said Tuesday.
According to data compiled by the Japan Department Stores Association on a same-store basis, clothing sales rose 1.9 percent, up for the third straight month, with sales of men's clothing climbing 3.7 percent and women's clothing rising 2.5 percent.
Home-use products, including furniture and appliances, increased 3.4 percent, but the product category comprising cosmetics and jewelry fell 2.8 percent, marking the first drop in five months. Food declined 1.4 percent.