Tokyo Department Store Sales Down 1.5 Pct in Oct.

Tokyo, Nov. 14 (Jiji Press)–Sales at department stores in Tokyo in October fell 1.5 pct from a year before, posting the first year- on-year drop in two months, the Japan Department Stores Association said Monday.

Combined sales at 27 outlets run by 13 companies came to 159,286 million yen, the association said.

Sales of clothing, which accounted for some 40 pct the total sales, slipped 1.7 pct to 66,017 million yen reflecting relatively warm weather in the month that dampened demand for winter items. Food sales were down 4.7 pct.

Meanwhile, sales of personal items, including handbags, grew 3.0 pct to 22,346 million yen, and sales of “miscellaneous” goods, such as cosmetics and accessories, rose 2.2 pct to 25,478 million yen.END