MNI 5 THINGS: Japan Nov Retail Sales Down On Weak Demand

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's retail sales declined to a six-month-low in November,

dragged lower by gloomy general merchandise, preliminary data released Friday by

the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) showed.

     The key points from the latest retail sales data:

     --Retail sales declined to 1.4% on year in November from October's 3.6%,

marking the lowest increase in the last six months. The increase failed to meet

the MNI median economist forecast for a gain of 2.2%. 

     --Fuel sales increased by 8.1% y/y in November -- well below the +15.0% in

October. Sales of medicine and cosmetics slowed to 4.6% y/y in November from

6.5% in October.

     --Sales for food and beverages contracted as well, down to 0.9% y/y,

compared with a 2.0% gain in October, while apparel sales fell further, down

0.4% y/y, the second straight month of decline.

     --On the month, retail sales decreased by 1.0% on a seasonally adjusted

basis in November, the first drop in six months, which could reflect a weak

domestic demands. 

     --METI maintained its view from last month that retail sales are "picking

up gradually", which was an upgrade from the previous view that sales were

"flat".

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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