Japan – Retail sales exceeded expectations in December

TOKYO – Sales growth at
retail trade in Japan rose by 1.3% in December
annual, show the official data of the Ministry of
Commerce released Wednesday.
This increase is greater than the 0.8% increase
anticipated by the median forecast after a 1.4% increase
in November.
Growth in retail sales, a key barometer of
household consumption, was supported in December by
clothing expenses and device purchases
appliances.
In seasonally adjusted data, sales
retail trade rose 0.9% in December after a decline of 1.1
in final reading in November.