Japan's department stores post eighth straight month of growth as jewellery and watches surge 12.8%
Nationwide department-store sales rose 2.6% in August, an eighth straight monthly gain, as high-ticket jewellery and watches extended a 13-month winning streak even while footfall fell and Osaka slipped for the first time in six months.
Japan's department stores logged their eighth consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth in August, with nationwide sales rising 2.6% to ¥422.1bn on a store-count-adjusted basis, according to the Japan Department Stores Association (JDSA). Jewellery and watches did the heavy lifting again, up 12.8% for a 13th straight month of gains.