Sales at both supermarkets and department stores dropped in January due to falling prices and weakening demand, industry associations said Monday.
The Japan Chain Stores Association said supermarket sales were down 2.8 percent from a year earlier to 1.271 trillion yen on a same-store basis, down for the 38th consecutive month.
Although the number of customers in the reporting month was almost the same as a year earlier, a fall in product prices resulted in an overall decline in sales, the association said.
Meanwhile, the Japan Department Stores Association said sales dropped 0.7 percent to 705.72 billion yen on a same-store basis, down for the second consecutive month.
While New Year's and clearance sales at some department stores had relatively good results, the continued decline in demand among large-lot customers dampened overall sales, the association said.
At supermarkets, sales of food products, such as sushi, sashimi, Chinese food and desserts were strong thanks to the New Year's holidays, but at department stores, sales of winter clothes and heaters were weak because of the mild weather, the chain stores association said.
Food sales, which accounted for 53.1 percent of overall supermarket sales, fell 0.7 percent to 674.87 billion yen.
Clothing sales, which accounted for 17 percent of overall supermarket sales, dropped 6.4 percent to 216.13 billion yen as increasing sales of spring clothes failed to overcome weak sales of winter clothes amid the mild climate and falling prices.
Sales of daily commodities, such as sundries, medical and cosmetic goods, furniture, and electric appliances, which made up 21.2 percent of overall supermarket sales, fell 4.2 percent to 269.90 billion yen, reflecting weak sales of household electronics appliance, such as washing machines, refrigerators and personal computers.
As for department stores, sales of clothing, which made up 46.9 percent of overall sales, slipped 1.3 percent to 331.07 billion yen.