Supermarket store sales down 5.3% in May

TOKYO —

Japan’s supermarket store sales in May declined 5.3% from a year earlier on a same-store basis, extending their losing streak to 18 months, an industry body said Tuesday. Sales for all three major product categories suffered declines on weak consumption in the month, the Japan Chain Stores Association said.

Sales of foods, accounting for more than 60% of supermarket sales, decreased 5.8%. Household product sales fell 4.7% and clothing sales 3%.

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