Food, cosmetics sales lift big stores

Sales at department stores across Japan rose 0.9 percent year on year in November to ¥692.45 billion, the first increase in three months, due to brisk sales of food on yearend gift demand and strong sales of cosmetic products, an industry group said Tuesday.

Cold weather began driving winter clothing sales later in the month although sales had been weak earlier, the Japan Department Stores Association reported.

Food sales climbed 3.0 percent to ¥184.39 billion and cosmetics sales rose 6.3 percent to ¥32.11 billion.

Clothing sales dipped 0.3 percent to ¥263.75 billion.

Sales of artwork, jewelry and precious metals posted a relatively steep decline, of 5.1 percent, to ¥33.25 billion as consumer confidence waned amid unstable economic trends while the euro stayed strong and competition remained stiff among retailers, according to the association.

Sales rose in metropolitan areas, including Tokyo and Osaka. The Nagoya area saw the highest rate of sales increase among the 10 metropolitan areas, at 5.4 percent.