Retail sales in Japan declined by 0.3 percent year-on-year in December 2020, following a 0.6 percent and compared to market estimates of a 0.6 percent increase. The largest declines were seen in general merchandise (-9.5 percent vs. -10.1 percent), fuel (-8.4 percent vs -10.2 percent), and fabrics & apparel (-4.4 percent vs -7.7 percent). In contrast, main positive contributors were: machinery & equipment (16.4 percent vs. 26.2 percent), motor vehicles (3.9 percent vs 3.0 percent) and medicine & toiletry stores (1.7 percent vs. -0.8 percent). On a monthly basis, retail sales declined by 0.8 percent in December, after a 2.1 percent drop in November. source: Ministry of Economy Trade & Industry (METI)

Retail Sales YoY in Japan averaged 4.33 percent from 1971 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 36.50 percent in January of 1979 and a record low of -14.30 percent in March of 1998. This page provides the latest reported value for - Japan Retail Sales YoY - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Japan Retail Sales - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2021.

Retail Sales YoY in Japan is expected to be 1.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Retail Sales YoY in Japan to stand at 1.20 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Japan Retail Sales is projected to trend around 1.40 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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Japan Retail Sales

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-0.30 0.60 36.50 -14.30 1971 - 2020 percent Monthly


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-10-28 11:50 PM Sep -8.7% -1.9% -7.7% -6%
2020-11-29 11:50 PM Oct 6.4% -8.7% -8.5%
2020-12-24 11:50 PM Nov 0.7% 6.4% 1.7% 2%
2021-01-27 11:50 PM Dec -0.3% 0.6% -0.4% -0.5%
2021-02-25 11:50 PM Jan -0.3% -2.6% -2.5%
2021-03-30 11:50 PM Feb
2021-04-29 11:50 PM Mar
2021-05-28 11:50 PM Apr
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
Japan Retail Sales Slump in December
Retail sales in Japan declined by 0.3 percent year-on-year in December 2020, following a 0.6 percent and compared to market estimates of a 0.6 percent increase. The largest declines were seen in general merchandise (-9.5 percent vs. -10.1 percent), fuel (-8.4 percent vs -10.2 percent), and fabrics & apparel (-4.4 percent vs -7.7 percent). In contrast, main positive contributors were: machinery & equipment (16.4 percent vs. 26.2 percent), motor vehicles (3.9 percent vs 3.0 percent) and medicine & toiletry stores (1.7 percent vs. -0.8 percent). On a monthly basis, retail sales declined by 0.8 percent in December, after a 2.1 percent drop in November.
2021-01-28
Japan Retail Sales Grow for 2nd Month
Retail sales in Japan rose by 0.7 percent year-on-year in November 2020, slowing from a 6.4 percent gain a month earlier and missing market estimates of a 1.7 percent increase, as consumption eased following a resurgence in local COVID-19 infections. Sales grew at a softer rate for food & beverages (0.2 percent vs 3.6 percent in October), motor vehicles (3.4 percent vs 16.7 percent), machinery & equipment (26.2 percent vs 27.3 percent), and others (6.3 percent vs 10.2 percent). At the same time, sales fell much faster for general merchandise (-10 percent vs -0.4 percent), fabrics apparel & accessories (-7.3 percent vs -4 percent), fuel (-10.3 percent vs -0.6 percent). Also, sales of medicine & toiletry dropped by 0.7 percent, after gaining 3.1 percent in October. On a monthly basis, retail sales declined by 2 percent in November, after a 0.5 percent rise in October.
2020-12-25
Japan Retail Sales Rise for First Time in 8 Months
Retail sales in Japan rose by 6.4 percent year-on-year in October, the first month of increase since February, due to a recovery in demand amid easing COVID-19 restrictions. Sales rebounded for motor vehicles (16.4 percent vs -16 percent in September), machinery & equipment (27.4 percent vs -24.3 percent), medicine & toiletry stores (3 percent vs -6.9 percent), and others (10.2 percent vs -6.5 percent). At the same time, sales dropped at softer pace for general merchandise (-0.4 percent vs -24.4 percent), fabrics apparel & accessories (-3.9 percent vs -24.1 percent), and fuel (-0.6 percent vs -8.1 percent). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose 0.4 percent in October, after a 0.1 percent fall in September.
2020-11-30
Japan Retail Sales Drop Much More than Expected
Retail sales in Japan plunged 8.7 percent year-on-year in September of 2020, following a 1.9 percent fall in the previous month and more than an expected 7.7 percent slump. It was the sharpest decline since May and the seventh consecutive month of falls in retail activity, amid the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 crisis that hit demand. Sales fell at a faster pace for general merchandise (-24.4 percent vs -12.2 percent in July); fabrics apparel & accessories (-23.5 percent vs -17.7 percent); motor vehicles (-16.4 percent vs -13.8 percent), and fuel (-8.0 percent vs -6.9 percent). In addition, sales of machinery & equipment plunged 24.4 percent after rising 3.9 percent, while sales of medicine & toiletry stores declined 6.9 percent after increasing 1.7 percent. On a monthly basis, retail sales edged down 0.1 percent after climbing 4.6 percent in August.
2020-10-28

Japan Retail Sales
In Japan, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.