Impact of Prolonged Rain and Extreme Heat on Store Sales

「June　94.5　93.2　101.4　Having one fewer Sunday than the previous year had a negative impact. In addition, sales of summer products such as fan-equipped clothing, seasonal appliances and insecticides were sluggish because of the low temperatures and heavy rainfall.」

「Home centers carry a wide range of highly seasonal products, including gardening and agricultural supplies, heating and cooling equipment, and snow-removal products. Because weather fluctuations such as cool summers, warm winters and prolonged rain can significantly affect sales trends for these seasonal products, unexpected unsettled weather could adversely affect the Group's business performance and financial condition.」

「Seasonal products continued to perform well because there was less rainfall than in the previous year. Sales of government-stockpiled rice and television advertising for air-conditioned clothing also contributed. / Having 1 more Sunday than in the previous year was a positive factor. However, performance was difficult because of the negative impact of the backlash in demand for disaster-preparedness products following the special information on the Nankai Trough Earthquake issued in the previous year.」

「Extreme heat and unsettled weather during the summer also affected fluctuations in demand.」

「Same-store sales benefited from front-loaded demand ahead of the consumption tax increase in September, but were affected by low temperatures in April, the late arrival of summer in July, and the backlash after the tax increase in October and November.」

「Sales in the home improvement business were ¥31,807 million, down 2.4% year on year. The openings of Sumi Depot Shibata in February, NicoPet Kyoto Yawata in July, and Home Center Musashi Kuki-Shobu and NicoPet Kuki-Shobu in August contributed, but sales were affected by the closures of Home Center Musashi Shibata Komo and Sumi Depot Atsugi in February of the previous fiscal year and a 4.0% year-on-year decline at existing stores due to low temperatures in April and the delayed arrival of summer in July.」

「The opening of Sumi Depot Shibata in February contributed, but sales fell 2.8% year on year due to the closure of Home Center Musashi Shibata Komo and Sumi Depot Atsugi in February of the previous fiscal year and the impact of low temperatures in early spring, particularly in April, on existing stores.」

「The opening of the NicoPet Yono store in May and the Sundeppo Atsugi store in November of the previous fiscal year contributed to sales. Same-store sales also increased 0.1% from the previous fiscal year despite declining customer numbers, due to favorable weather in early spring, strong sales of seasonal products supported by extreme summer heat and caution over heavy snowfall in the previous year, and disaster reconstruction demand, among other factors.」

「The opening of the NicoPet Yono store in May and the Sundeppo Atsugi store in November of the previous year contributed to sales. Same-store sales were approximately at the previous year's level, as declining customer numbers in May, June and September were offset by favorable weather in April, extreme heat in July and August, and disaster reconstruction demand from late September onward.」

「The opening of the NicoPet Yono store in May and the Sundeppo Atsugi store in November of the previous year contributed to sales. Existing stores performed well in April, when early-spring weather was favorable, and in July and August, when extreme heat continued, but sales fell 0.8% year on year due to the impact of declining customer numbers in May and June.」

「The opening of the NicoPet Yono store in May and the Sundeppo Atsugi store in November of the previous year contributed to sales, while favorable weather in early spring, particularly in April, enabled existing stores to perform steadily, limiting the decline to 0.6% year on year.」

「Same-store sales fell 2.7% year on year despite strong sales of seasonal products supported by strong performance during Golden Week, the arrival of extreme heat in July and heavy snowfall in December. This was due to weather-related factors, including the late start for seasonal products caused by low temperatures in early spring, lower customer numbers due to prolonged rain and typhoons in autumn and heavy snowfall in January and February.」

「Same-store sales fell 2.9% year on year despite strong performance during Golden Week and the arrival of extreme heat in July, as seasonal products got off to a late start due to low temperatures in early spring and autumn weather was unfavorable because of rain and typhoons, among other factors.」

「The opening of the Home Center Musashi Ueda store in June of the previous year and the NicoPet Yono store in May of the current year contributed to sales. However, same-store sales fell 2.9% year on year due to the late start for seasonal products caused by low temperatures in early spring during the first quarter (21 February to 20 May), despite strong performance during Golden Week; continued unsettled weather in August despite the arrival of extreme heat in July during the second quarter (21 May to 20 August); and fewer operating days than in the previous fiscal year, which was a leap year.」

「The opening of Home Center Musashi Ueda in June of the previous year and NicoPet Yono in May contributed, but sales fell 3.4% year on year. Same-store sales were strong in May, particularly during Golden Week, but remained weak in March and April due to prolonged low temperatures, and there were fewer operating days than in the previous fiscal year, which was a leap year.」

「Sales in the home center segment were ¥4,846.4 million, approximately the same as in the year-earlier period. The Home Center Musashi Ueda store, which opened in June, contributed to sales. Same-store sales were down 0.2% year on year in the first quarter accounting period (21 February to 20 May), despite a strong start due to rising temperatures in early spring, because of unsettled weather during Golden Week; down 0.1% in the second quarter accounting period (21 May to 20 August), as a prolonged rainy season offset the arrival of extreme heat in August; and down 2.7% in the third quarter accounting period (21 August to 20 November), as a recovery in sales due to falling temperatures in November was offset by unsettled weather, including typhoons and torrential rain, in September and October. Amid changing seasonal factors, same-store sales for the cumulative third quarter (21 February to 20 November) were down 1.0% year on year.」

「Although the current second quarter (21 May to 20 August) was affected by a prolonged rainy season, the arrival of extreme heat resulted in same-store sales of 0.1% below the year-earlier level, in line with the prior year, including a 0.1% decline for the cumulative second quarter. This was also supported by the contribution from the Home Center Musashi Ueda store, which opened in June.」