MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Aug Retail Sales Bounce After July Dip

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's retail sales bounced in August, driven by quicker

sales of general merchandise, machinery/equipment and fuel on a year-on-year

basis, data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) showed

Monday.

     Here are the key points from the latest retail sales data:

     --Retail sales rose 2.0% year-on-year in August, erasing the 2.0% fall seen

last month. The growth outpaced the 0.5% y/y growth projected by MNI's median

survey. 

     --General merchandise sales increased for the first time in 14 months by

0.3% y/y in August, after falling 5.8% y/y previously. Sales for machinery and

equipment surged 12.1% y/y from the 8.2% y/y drop reported in July, marking the

biggest gain across sectors this month.

     --Fuel sales dropped 3.5% y/y, but improving from the 6.1% y/y fall

recorded in July. Sales of food and beverages edged up 0.9% y/y, compared with a

0.5% y/y drop in July. Sales for fabric apparels and accessories increased

sharply by 4.9% y/y from the previous 5.5% y/y fall.

     --On a monthly basis retail sales were up 4.8% in August, much higher than

last month's 2.3% drop.

--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

[TOPICS: MAJDS$,MAUDR$,MAUDS$,M$A$$$,M$J$$$,M$U$$$]