A major industry association released preliminary July same-store sales results. Overall sales were roughly in line with the previous year, with food sales edging up, non-food sales declining and the fresh food divisions remaining solid.
An organization affiliated with the Japan Supermarket Association released preliminary July supermarket sales statistics. The survey covered 270 companies. Sales across all stores increased 1.1% year on year, while same-store sales increased 0.0%.
Total food sales increased 0.1%, while non-food sales decreased 1.3% and Other sales decreased 0.9%, indicating divergent trends between food and non-food sales in Japan. The three fresh food divisions together increased 2.6%, with sales also rising in each of the produce, seafood and meat divisions.
Prepared foods increased 1.9%, daily-use foods decreased 0.1% and general foods decreased 3.6%, resulting in differences between divisions. The association explained that total sales were roughly in line with the previous year due to the impact of falling rice prices, and attention is focused on future trends.