Department store sales in Tokyo edged up 0.3 percent in February from a year earlier to 139.19 billion yen for the first rise in 27 months, the Japan Department Stores Association said Monday.

The association attributed the gain to the leap year, store renovations and special sales and events that stimulated demand for seasonal goods.

The marginal increase reflects continued weakness in demand from corporate clients.

Sales of clothing -- the largest product sector for the department stores, accounting for 36.6 percent of the February total -- rose 5.1 percent from a year earlier to 50.88 billion yen, up for the first time in four months.