Japan's chain stores hold nearly flat in June as food offsets weak clothing and furniture sales
Japan's chain-store sales held nearly flat in June, JCSA said — but only because food's steady 73.3% share of the mix is offsetting clothing (85.0% of last year's level) and furniture (78.4%) declines that are anything but flat.
Japan's chain stores posted combined sales of ¥1.0348 trillion in June 2026, the Japan Chain Stores Association (JCSA) said in a release dated 22 July, with existing-store sales essentially flat on a year earlier even as clothing and furniture sales fell sharply and food held its place as the sector's anchor category.