Sales at department stores in Tokyo came to 178.02 billion yen in October, down 1.5 percent for the first year-on-year drop in five months, the Japan Department Stores Association said Thursday.

The drop, adjusted for changes in the number of stores, was due to declining demand from large corporate customers, the association said.

The one less Sunday in October compared with the previous October also contributed to the drop.

Sales of clothing, which comprise the largest share of overall sales, came to 77.42 billion yen, down 2.5 percent in the first year-on-year fall in three months, following a substantial rise of 6.2 percent in September.

Food sales, the second-biggest share, grew for the third consecutive month to 30.17 billion yen, up 0.3 percent from a year earlier.

The October sales data cover 28 outlets operated by 13 department stores in Tokyo's 23 wards. It includes 21.1 billion yen in sales of personal goods such as shoes and handbags, up 3.4 percent and for the 12th consecutive month.

Sales of sundry goods, including accessories, watches and cosmetics, rose for the eighth consecutive month to 25.93 billion yen, up 1.2 percent.

Household goods, including furniture and electric applications, incurred a double-digit sales drop for the second straight month, to 13.5 billion yen, falling 13.5 percent following the previous month's 11.8 percent drop.

Despite sales gains in the previous four months, the October data show that department stores "remain in a difficult situation," an association official said.

October sales in Osaka fell for the first time in two months to 95.7 billion yen, down 0.6 percent from a year earlier.

The year-on-year drop becomes 2.5 percent if the October 2000 data include sales at failed Sogo Co.'s Osaka outlet, which was closed in December 2000.