Retail Sales in Japan decreased 1.10 percent in August of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Retail Sales YoY - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about Japan Retail Sales Growth

• Japan Retail Sales grew 5.2 % YoY in Apr 2023, compared with a 6.8 % increase in the previous month.
• Japan Retail Sales Growth YoY data is updated monthly, available from Oct 1992 to Apr 2023, with an average growth rate of 0.1 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 12.1 % in Mar 1997 and a record low of -14.0 % in Mar 1998.
• In the latest reports, Car Sales of Japan recorded 326,730.0 units in May 2023, representing a growth of 25.0 %.

CEIC calculates monthly Retail Sales: Incl. Motor Vehicles Growth from monthly Retail Trade Index. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry provides Retail Trade Index with base 2020=100. Retail Sales: Incl. Motor Vehicles Growth prior to January 2003 is calculated from Retail Trade Index with base 2005=100, and prior to January 2001 is calculated from Retail Trade Index with base 1995=100.

In 2021, the number of retail stores in Japan continued to decline, reaching around 880 thousand. Even though the sales of the retail sector showed an upward trend in recent years, the number of physical sales points declined steadily.

In November 2024, the commercial sales in the retail sector reached **** trillion Japanese yen, representing a slight increase on a year-on-year basis. December was the strongest month for retail sales in Japan in 2023, reaching a sales value of around **** trillion yen. Compared to the same period in the previous year, retail sales increased slightly by about *** billion yen, facilitated by a sales increase at food and beverages retail stores.

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Total Retail Trade: Volume for Japan (SLRTTO01JPA659S) from 1956 to 2024 about Japan, retail trade, sales, and retail.

In 2023, the retail sales value of food and beverages in Japan amounted to over ** trillion Japanese yen, representing the largest retail segment. That year, the total sales of retail trade in Japan exceeded *** trillion yen.

Retail sales Y-on-Y in Japan, August, 2025 The most recent value is -1.1 percent as of August 2025, a decline compared to the previous value of 0.4 percent. Historically, the average for Japan from January 2003 to August 2025 is 0.92 percent. The minimum of -13.9 percent was recorded in April 2020, while the maximum of 12 percent was reached in April 2021. | TheGlobalEconomy.com

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Total Retail Trade: Value for Japan (SLRTTO02JPQ661N) from Q1 1960 to Q3 2023 about Japan, retail trade, sales, and retail.

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Total Retail Trade: Value for Japan (JPNSLRTTO02IXOBSAM) from Jan 1960 to Oct 2023 about Japan, trade, retail trade, sales, and retail.

In 2021, the total floor space of retail stores in Japan amounted to around *** million square meters. Even though the number of retail stores declined steadily in the last decades, the sales floor area remained above *** million square meters.

The Report Includes Japan Travel Retail Market and is Segmented by Product Type (Fashion and Accessories, Wine & Spirits, Tobacco, Food & Confectionary, Fragrances and Cosmetics, Others), By Distribution Channel (Airports, Airlines, Ferries and Other Distribution Channels). The report offers market size and forecasts for the Japan Travel Retail Market in terms of value (USD Billion) for all the above segments.

In 2023, the sales value of the food and beverages retail industry in Japan amounted to around 48.4 trillion Japanese yen. Edibles represented a major segment within the domestic retail sector, covering a broad range of fresh produce, prepared meals, and shelf-stable food. Where do Japanese buy food? Non-store channels have been emerging slowly within consumer market segments in Japan. However, in-store retailers were by far the trusted providers for food and beverages. In particular, fresh produce with low durability that was needed at short notice were preferably purchased in physical stores. To take advantage of the trust in in-store retailing, convenience stores in Japan introduced a pilot project for a delivery service in small neighborhoods. This allowed consumers to order food and daily necessities at corner stores nearby, with deliveries arriving within the same day - although only at selected stores within a certain distance. What food do Japanese buy? The average household in Japan spent more than 60,000 yen on edibles per month, which was one of the main expense items weighing on the household budget. Home-cooking used to be the norm in Japanese dietary habits, with homemade packed lunches (o-bento) being prepared early in the morning for mealtimes throughout the day. But in the past decades, prepared food and eating out have been topping the list of food expense items, with store retailers catering to the demand with snack corners, packed lunches, and deep-fried side dishes prepared daily.

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Total Retail Trade: Value for Japan (SLRTTO02JPA661S) from 1960 to 2022 about Japan, retail trade, sales, and retail.

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Total Retail Trade: Volume for Japan (SLRTTO01JPQ657S) from Q2 1955 to Q2 2025 about Japan, retail trade, sales, and retail.

Japan Large Scale Retail Stores: ESASR: Department Stores data was reported at 97.400 % in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 100.600 % for Aug 2018. Japan Large Scale Retail Stores: ESASR: Department Stores data is updated monthly, averaging 98.700 % from Jan 1988 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 369 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 133.300 % in Mar 1989 and a record low of 81.600 % in Mar 1998. Japan Large Scale Retail Stores: ESASR: Department Stores data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.H005: Large Scale Retail Stores: Sales and Commodity Stock Value.

In the fiscal year 2024, the home delivery sales value of community-based retail co-ops in Japan amounted to approximately 2.12 trillion Japanese yen. Around two-thirds of the retail co-ops home delivery sales value came from individual home delivery sales.

Japan Retail Trade: Others data was reported at 5,575.000 JPY bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,591.000 JPY bn for Aug 2018. Japan Retail Trade: Others data is updated monthly, averaging 5,389.000 JPY bn from Jan 1980 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 465 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,558.000 JPY bn in Mar 1997 and a record low of 2,975.000 JPY bn in Jan 1980. Japan Retail Trade: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.H001: Wholesale and Retail Trade.

Japan Retail Trade: Others: Others data was reported at 3,488.000 JPY bn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,692.000 JPY bn for Aug 2018. Japan Retail Trade: Others: Others data is updated monthly, averaging 3,469.000 JPY bn from Jan 1980 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 465 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,668.000 JPY bn in Mar 2014 and a record low of 2,104.000 JPY bn in Jan 1980. Japan Retail Trade: Others: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.H001: Wholesale and Retail Trade.

Retail Sales Volume Index data was reported at 67.497 2010=100 in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 68.319 2010=100 for Feb 2025. Retail Sales Volume Index data is updated monthly, averaging 78.501 2010=100 from Jan 1987 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 459 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 115.026 2010=100 in Jul 2011 and a record low of 44.475 2010=100 in Feb 1987. Retail Sales Volume Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.GEM: Retail Sales Volume.

The Japanese e-commerce market, exhibiting a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.30%, presents a significant opportunity for businesses. While the exact market size in 2025 (the base year) isn't provided, extrapolating from the given historical period (2019-2024) and the projected CAGR suggests a substantial market value in the billions of US dollars. The market's growth is fueled by several key drivers: increasing internet and smartphone penetration, a rapidly aging population embracing online convenience, and the rising popularity of mobile commerce. Specific segments like beauty and personal care, fashion and apparel, and consumer electronics are experiencing particularly strong growth, driven by consumer preference for online product discovery and diverse purchasing options. However, challenges remain, including concerns over data privacy and security, competition from established players (like Amazon and Rakuten), and the need to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and technological advancements. The B2B e-commerce segment also shows potential, although its growth rate might be slightly lower than the overall market due to more established traditional B2B channels in Japan. The competitive landscape is characterized by a blend of global giants and local players, each with a unique approach to market segmentation and customer acquisition. Companies such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Mercari dominate the B2C space, leveraging their extensive logistics networks and brand recognition. Smaller, niche players often excel in specific product categories or through targeted marketing campaigns. The future success of companies in this market will hinge on their ability to innovate in areas such as customer experience, personalized recommendations, seamless payment gateways, and robust delivery solutions to meet the demands of the increasingly sophisticated Japanese consumer. Understanding these dynamics and successfully navigating the regulatory landscape will be crucial for navigating the competitive environment and capitalizing on the significant market potential. Recent developments include: February 2022 - Rakuten, a key vendor in Japan's E-commerce company, launched its own NFT platform for the sale and trade of virtual assets in a bid to cash in on the crypto sector. The company said its platform also features an ability for IP holders to build their own websites supporting the issuance and sale of NFTs., November 2021 - Forest, a Japanese E-commerce aggregator, announced that it had raised approximately USD 8 million in a seed round led by The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners and Nordstar Partners. The startup will use the new capital to acquire more than 300 Japanese E-commerce brands that have been carefully crafted and curated by entrepreneurs. Forest will apply digital marketing strategies at scale, optimize sales and enhance inventory planning through data analytics, as well as support cross-border E-commerce expansion.. Key drivers for this market are: Rising Adoption of Card Payments and M-commerce to Boost the E-commerce Market, Highly Developed Distribution Channels to Boost the E-commerce Market. Potential restraints include: High Investment Costs for On-Premise Solutions, Lack of Skilled Professionals. Notable trends are: Rising Adoption of Card Payments and M-commerce to Boost the E-commerce Market.