September - Department store sales down for 31st consecutive month

Earlier today, the Japan Department Store Association released data showing that sales at department stores nationwide fell 5.2% to 446.3 billion yen in September, marking the 31st consecutive month of decline. The survey covered sales at 92 department store operators with 260 shops, down from 263 a month before.
Here is the breakdown of sales by individual categories:
Clothing: 34.7% of total sales, sales down 8.9% from a year ago
Personal Effects: 12.8% of total sales, down 7.2%
Miscellaneous Goods: 15.3% of total sales, down 3.5%
Household Goods: 5.2% of total sales, down 2.9%
Food: 25.3% of total sales, down 3.1%
Services: 1.2% of total sales, up 1.9%
Other: 2.3% of total sales, up 21.1%
Gift Certificates: 3.5% of total sales, up 8.2%
In the Tokyo area itself, sales fell 3.8% to 112.7 billion yen, also marking the 31st consecutive month of decline.
In a separately published survey, the Japan Department Store Association indicated that sales to foreign tourists has increased 18.7% in September, though this report only took sales at 41 locations into consideration.
According to the report, tourists from China accounted for the greatest share of sales, followed by those from Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, The United States and Malaysia.

http://www.japaneconomynews.com/2010/10/18/japan-department-store-sales-down-for-31st-consecutive-month-in-september/