Japan's retail sales rose 1.3 percent in August from a year earlier to 10.44 trillion yen after a 0.1 percent fall in July, on the back of high temperatures that pushed up beverages sales and rising market prices of vegetables, the government said Thursday.
Favorable weather conditions also increased sales of ice cream and market prices of fruits were high as well. Retail sales of fuels posted a rise for the 29th straight month due to continued surges in crude oil prices.
Meanwhile, retail sales of clothing for the fall season, compact cars and larger passenger vehicles did not fare well.