MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Sep Retail Sales Surge, Demand Strong

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's retail sales jumped in September, driven by improving

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

Wednesday.

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

     --Retail sales rose for a second straight month by 9.1% year-on-year in

September, following last month's 1.9% y/y growth, outpacing the 6.9% y/y growth

projected by MNI's median survey. 

     --General merchandise sales accelerated to 13.9% y/y in September, much

quicker than the 0.2% y/y increase reported previously. Sales for machinery and

equipment surged 37.9% y/y from August's 12.1% y/y, marking the biggest gain

across sectors this month.

     --Fuel sales dropped 0.4% y/y, improving from the 3.6% y/y fall recorded in

August. Sales of food and beverages edged up 1.1% y/y, compared with a 0.7% y/y

increase. Sales for fabric apparels and accessories increased 1.7% y/y, down

from the previous 4.6% y/y gain.

     --On a monthly basis retail sales were up 7.1% in September, quicker than

last month's 4.6% increase.

--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$$$]