Impact of Abnormal Weather on Apparel Sales

「Regarding the weather, rainy-season conditions and successive typhoons approaching from June through mid-July caused summer demand to slow. After the rainy season ended, extreme heat prevailed nationwide, while sudden heavy rain and thunderstorms occurred frequently in many areas in August.」

「Summer merchandise performed well as record-breaking heat continued through early autumn, but the launch of fall and early-winter merchandise was significantly delayed. However, as temperatures fell from November, winter merchandise began selling earlier than last year, and sales of winter merchandise, particularly cold-weather items, remained solid thereafter.」

「Although summer merchandise performed well because record heat continued into early autumn, the start of sales of autumn and early-winter merchandise was substantially delayed.」

「From June through August, there were many sunny days and sales of summer merchandise were strong. Meanwhile, average temperatures reached the highest level on record since statistics began, and the unusually hot weather, particularly in August, led to a tendency to refrain from going out.」

「High temperatures continued from summer into autumn, with average temperatures reaching record highs. Summer merchandise performed well, but the launch of fall and winter merchandise was extremely difficult. Temperatures fell nationwide from late November, after which winter merchandise sales performed well.」

「Regarding the weather, the rainy season began nationwide in June later than usual. Temperatures were higher than normal, atmospheric conditions became unstable in many areas, and heavy rain and thunder were observed. Many extremely hot days were recorded in the Kanto region and westward in early July, but localized torrential rain occurred frequently from mid-July onward. By early August, the rainy season had ended nationwide, and many more extremely hot days were recorded in the Kanto region and westward, resulting in strong summer merchandise sales.」

「From early to mid-March, cold air and rain or snow caused temperatures to fall below normal in many areas, creating difficult conditions for spring and summer merchandise sales. Temperatures also fell below normal in many areas in early April due to strong cold air, but from mid-April there were many sunny days and some areas recorded summer-like temperatures. During the Golden Week holidays in early May, sunny conditions spread across the country and temperatures rose enough for summer-like and midsummer temperatures to be recorded, resulting in strong sales of summer merchandise.」

「During the period, there were an exceptionally large number of unseasonably hot days, creating harsh conditions for fall and winter merchandise sales.」

「The rainy season began earlier than last year in the Tokai region and westward in late May. Through late June, the rainy-season front and typhoons brought many cloudy and rainy days nationwide, while temperatures fluctuated periodically. From mid- to late July, the rainy season ended across the country and temperatures rose sharply. Western Japan was hit by 2 typhoons from early to mid-August, but extreme heat continued day after day nationwide, including in northern Japan.」

「During the period, morning and evening temperatures were low and the weather changed periodically, making conditions difficult for spring and summer merchandise sales.」

「Temperatures rose sharply when the rainy season effectively ended in late June, and summer merchandise sales were strong in July and August due to extreme heat. In the second half, September brought lingering summer heat, while morning and evening temperatures became significantly colder in October. Winter merchandise sales were steady from November through February as temperatures remained around normal.」

「From late August through late September, hot weather continued nationwide, and 2 large typhoons approached or made landfall in September. From early to mid-October, cloudy and rainy days were common nationwide, and the impact of a cold front brought sharper morning and evening chills. From late October through early November, daytime temperatures rose in the Kanto region and westward, with some days recording summer-like temperatures of 25°C or higher in western Japan. By mid-November, temperatures nationwide were around the seasonal average, while Sapporo recorded its first snowfall 15 days later than usual.」

「Although the rainy season ended early in July, August was cool and summer sales were weak. In the second half, temperatures fell in September and morning and evening temperatures became significantly colder in October and November. From December through February, midwinter cold and snowfall continued, while winter merchandise, particularly practical products, performed well.」

「Temperatures subsequently fell through late October, and as autumn deepened in the Kanto region and westward, early-winter merchandise performed well. Temperatures rose again in early November, but from mid-November onward, morning and evening temperatures fell sharply nationwide, driving growth in winter merchandise sales.」

「In mid-May, the rainy season began in the Tokai region and westward more than 3 weeks earlier than last year. Rainy and cloudy days became more common nationwide, and temperatures fell. In mid-June, the rainy season began in the Kanto region and farther north, and unstable weather, with sunny and rainy days alternating across the country, continued through early July. The rainy season ended 2 weeks earlier than last year in mid-July, and temperatures rose sharply, but from early August onward, typhoons and the autumn rain front brought frequent rain and autumn-like temperatures, resulting in weak summer sales.」

「From late April, temperatures fell, and the rainy season began in the Tokai region and westward in mid-May, 3 weeks earlier than usual, slowing sales of summer merchandise.」

「In addition, it was a year without a typhoon making landfall for the first time in 12 years, resulting in weather favorable for sales of seasonal products throughout the year.」

「In addition, there were many sunny days and less impact from typhoons than last year, making the weather highly favorable for sales of fall and winter merchandise.」

「Prolonged rain continued from late June through late July, and the rainy season ended about one week later than last year, causing seasonal products to sell slowly. After the rainy season ended at the end of July, hot, summer-like days continued, and summer merchandise such as cooling fabrics began selling briskly.」

「Sales of summer merchandise were weak due in part to restrictions on going out related to COVID-19 and low temperatures in April.」

「In the first half, low temperatures in April and July, and in the second half, temperatures as high as midsummer through early October and a record-breaking warm winter from December through February, led to lower sales of seasonal products. In addition, successive typhoons made landfall in September and October, causing many stores to close or shorten their operating hours, and difficult conditions for apparel sales continued throughout the year.」

「In the second half, temperatures remained as high as midsummer until early October, while typhoons made landfall one after another through November. Many stores closed or shortened their operating hours, and difficult conditions for apparel sales continued.」

「Because the rainy season ended about one month later than last year, seasonal products, particularly cooling-touch bedding and interiors, yukata and swimwear, sold slowly in July. After the rainy season ended, hot, summer-like days continued and summer merchandise began selling briskly.」

「From late March through mid-April, a nationwide spell of cold weather led to weak sales of practical products such as underwear and bedding.」

「During the fiscal year, Japan’s economy remained on a recovery trend, and employment and income conditions remained firm. However, consumer sentiment showed signs of weakening because of abnormal weather throughout the year and natural disasters such as typhoons and torrential rain.」

「Severe lingering heat continued from late August through early September, allowing the clearance of summer products to progress, but customer traffic then slowed because of unsettled weather caused by a stalled autumn rain front. From October through November, temperatures remained above average nationwide, creating difficult weather conditions for winter apparel sales.」

「In early July, torrential rain disasters occurred in western Japan because of Typhoon No. 7 and the Baiu front, among other factors. Two major typhoons then struck from late July through August. In addition, record heat made conditions difficult for summer apparel sales as customers refrained from going out during the day.」

「Because spring-like weather continued from late March, cherry blossoms bloomed earlier than average nationwide. However, weather fluctuated significantly from April onward as low-pressure systems passed, and snowfall was also observed in Hokkaido after the second half of Golden Week in May. Heavy rain and low temperatures created difficult weather conditions for sales of early-summer and summer products.」

「Weather affecting apparel sales provided a tailwind as the four seasons remained clearly distinguishable throughout the year, but abnormal weather also had an impact, including low temperatures from March through April, torrential rain and typhoon damage from July through October, and heavy snowfall mainly on the Sea of Japan side from January through February.」

「Although temperatures fell nationwide from mid-November, high temperatures from September through October and the impact of typhoons striking on two consecutive weekends in late October created difficult weather conditions for autumn and winter apparel sales.」

「Difficult weather conditions continued for spring and summer apparel sales, including snowfall in the Kanto region in late March, torrential rain in northern Kyushu in early July, and the impact of Typhoon No. 5 from late July through early August.」

「Weather affecting apparel sales included many low-temperature days from March through April, with snowfall also observed in the Kanto region in late March, creating difficult conditions for spring and early-summer apparel sales.」

「Weather affecting apparel sales remained abnormal, with falling temperatures during the first half of Golden Week, successive typhoons from August through September, severe lingering heat from September through October, and an unusually warm winter nationwide from December through February. As a result, conditions were difficult for apparel sales.」

「Weather affecting apparel sales remained abnormal, with falling temperatures during the first half of Golden Week, successive typhoons from August through September, and severe lingering heat from September through October. Although temperatures fell after late October, conditions were difficult for autumn apparel sales.」

「Weather affecting apparel sales remained abnormal, with cold weather returning after Tokyo’s cherry-blossom declaration and 10 days required for the blossoms to reach full bloom, followed by falling temperatures during the first half of Golden Week.」