Friday, Feb. 27, 2026
0850 JST (2350 GMT/1850 EST Thursday, Feb. 26) The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry releases January retail sales.
Mace News median: +0.1% y/y (range: -1.2% to +2.5%) vs. Dec -0.9%; +2.1% m/m (range: +1.6% to+3.0%) vs. Dec -2.0%
TOKYO (MaceNews) – Japan’s retail sales are projected to inch up on the year in January after unexpectedly declining in the previous month, dragged down by lower fuel costs and weaker clothing sales amid sluggish department store performance.
Retail sales are seen rising a slim 0.1 percent from a year earlier in January, following a 0.9 percent drop the previous month.
Department store sales showed signs of recovery in January as consumption picked up during the year-end and New Year holiday period. Overall sales, however, remained under pressure as a slowdown in automobile sales, combined with falling gasoline prices, weighed on fuel-related revenue.
On a month-on-month basis, retail sales are expected to increase 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, reversing a 2.0 percent decline in December.
AloJapan.com