Feb 2009 - Department Store Sales fall by 5.4% YOY; 24th straight decline

Department store sales fell 5.4 percent in February YOY, marking the 24th consecutive month of decline, the Japan Department Stores Association said.

Although consumers continued to tighten their belts amid the economic downturn, sales were recovering slowly due to the government's fiscal stimulus measures and other factors, according to the association.

Purchases by foreign visitors, including Chinese who traveled to Japan during the Lunar New Year holidays, rose 120.5 percent at 41 of the outlets surveyed, the association said.

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