MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan November Retail Sales Improved

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's retail sales recovered from October's tumble,

encouraged by improving sales of general merchandise, machinery/equipment and

motor vehicles, 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 2.1% year-on-year in November, fighting back from the

previous 7.0% y/y drop. The decline is the second biggest monthly fall this

year. 

     --General merchandise sales dropped 4.4% y/y from the previous month's

13.3% y/y fall. Sales for machinery and equipment fell 7.8% y/y, compared with

the 14.7% y/y drop in October.

     --Fuel sales contracted to 7.1% y/y from last month's 12.7% y/y drop. Sales

of food and beverages edged up 0.4% y/y, compared with a 1.9% y/y decrease the

previous month. Sales of fabric apparels and accessories decreased 0.1% y/y, an

improvement on the previous 5.9% y/y fall.

     --On a monthly basis, retail sales were up 4.5% in November, rising from

the comparable 14.4% decrease in October.

--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$$$]