Retail sales resumed their tumble and Tokyo consumer prices slid the most in a decade in November, according to government data, amid slumping energy costs and record virus cases that kept shoppers home and darkened the recovery outlook.
Seasonably adjusted retail sales fell 2% from the previous month, as consumers continued to cut back on apparel purchases, the economy ministry reported Friday.
Analysts had forecast an 0.8% decrease. The government maintained its assessment that sales are basically flat.