MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Dec Retail Sales -2.6% y/y;

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's retail sales dipped a further 2.6% y/y in the last

month of 2019, dragging all sales growth lower to 0.1% y/y for the year, data

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

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

     --Retail sales fell by 2.6% year-on-year in December, combing with the Q4

drop to bring the three month fall to 11.7%. The decline was the second biggest

monthly fall over 2019.  

     --General merchandise sales dropped 5.1% y/y, faster than the previous

month's 4.4% y/y fall. Sales for machinery and equipment quickened their decline

to 11.1% y/y, compared with the 8.1% y/y drop recorded in November.

     --Fuel sales fell 3.3% y/y, an improvement from the previous 6.8% y/y fall.

Sales of food and beverages edged down 0.2% y/y, compared with a 0.3% y/y

increase the previous month. Sales of fabric apparels and accessories decreased

sharply by 6.4% y/y, following last month's -0.1% y/y.

     --On a monthly basis, retail sales were up 0.2% in December, much slower

than the 4.5% monthly gain in November.

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

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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