MNI DATA IMPACT:Japan Mar Retail Sales Drop On Falling Demand

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japanese retail sales dipped in March due to a contraction in

domestic demand caused by the Covid-19 disruption, according to data from the

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

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

     --Retail sales fell 4.6% year-on-year in March, in line with the MNI median

and down from the 1.6% y/y gain reported last month, marking the biggest fall in

five months.

     --General merchandise sales fell sharply by 21.0% y/y after falling 4.6%

y/y last month. Sales of fabric apparels and accessories dropped for the sixth

month by 22.3% y/y, following last month's 3.5% y/y fall.

     --Sales of food and beverages fell 0.5% y/y in March, down from the

previous 3.6% y/y growth. Fuel sales, another key driver, dropped a significant

6.5% y/y after the 2.8% y/y gain in February. Sales of machinery and equipment

declined 6.7% y/y from the previous 1.9% y/y increase.

     --On a monthly basis, retail sales were down by 4.5% in March, reversing

the 0.6% growth in February.

--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$$$]