Apparel sales dip 3.9% in Feb at Japanese chain stores

Womenswear sales fell 21.3 per cent to 14,757 million yen compared to the same month of 2019, while menswear sales declined 2.3 per cent to 7,336 million yen, the association said. Sales of other garments and accessories also dropped 20,7 per cent to 1,596 million yen.

However, total same-store sales (including apparel) in February 2020 increased by 4.1 per cent over the corresponding month of last year to 937,621 million yen, showing an increase for the first time in five months. The increase in sales was due to a rise in sales of food items in the second half of the month, when people stayed at home due to the virus outbreak, the association said.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (RKS)