Retail sales in Japan unexpectedly dropped 0.9% year-on-year in December 2025, reversing an upwardly revised 1.1% increase in the previous month and defying market expectations of a 0.7% rise. This marked the first decline in retail turnover since August, reflecting that households had already met their year-end needs in the previous month, supported by rising wages. Sales decreased for clothing and personal goods (-11.6%), fuel (-10.8%), non-store retailers (-5.8%), department stores (-0.5%), and food and beverages (-0.4%). By contrast, retail trade increased for other retail categories (6.1%), automobiles (5.9%), machinery and equipment (5.9%), and cosmetics (0.1%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 2.0% in December after an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in November, marking the first monthly decline in four months. source: Ministry of Economy Trade & Industry (METI)

Retail Sales in Japan decreased 0.90 percent in December of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Japan averaged 4.19 percent from 1971 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 36.50 percent in January of 1979 and a record low of -14.30 percent in March of 1998. This page 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. Japan Retail Sales - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Retail Sales in Japan decreased 0.90 percent in December of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Japan is expected to be 2.10 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Retail Sales is projected to trend around 1.80 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-25 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Nov 1% 1.7% 0.9% 0.9%
2026-01-29 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Dec -0.9% 1.1% 0.7% 0.9%
2026-02-26 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Jan -0.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 2.75 2.60 percent Jan 2026
Consumer Confidence 37.90 37.20 points Jan 2026
Consumer Credit 57202.60 56452.60 JPY Billion Sep 2025
GDP Private Consumption 309442.20 309116.20 JPY Billion Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 1010.41 425.50 JPY Thousand Dec 2025
Gasoline Prices 1.02 1.01 USD/Liter Jan 2026
Household Spending YoY -2.60 2.90 percent Dec 2025
Household Spending MoM -2.90 6.20 percent Dec 2025
Households Debt to GDP 64.00 64.50 percent of GDP Jun 2025
Personal Savings 0.40 0.40 percent Sep 2025
Retail Sales MoM -2.00 0.70 percent Dec 2025
Retail Sales YoY -0.90 1.10 percent Dec 2025


Japan Retail Sales
In Japan, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-0.90 1.10 36.50 -14.30 1971 - 2025 percent Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
Japan Retail Sales Unexpectedly Fall in December
Retail sales in Japan unexpectedly dropped 0.9% year-on-year in December 2025, reversing an upwardly revised 1.1% increase in the previous month and defying market expectations of a 0.7% rise. This marked the first decline in retail turnover since August, reflecting that households had already met their year-end needs in the previous month, supported by rising wages. Sales decreased for clothing and personal goods (-11.6%), fuel (-10.8%), non-store retailers (-5.8%), department stores (-0.5%), and food and beverages (-0.4%). By contrast, retail trade increased for other retail categories (6.1%), automobiles (5.9%), machinery and equipment (5.9%), and cosmetics (0.1%). On a monthly basis, retail sales fell 2.0% in December after an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in November, marking the first monthly decline in four months.
2026-01-29
Japan Retail Sales Growth Above Forecasts
Retail sales in Japan rose 1.0% year-on-year in November 2025, slowing from a 1.7% increase in the previous month but surpassing market expectations of 0.9%. This marked the third consecutive month of growth in retail turnover, supported by resilient household spending on essentials heading into year-end, steady wage gains, and a recovery in inbound tourism. Sales increased for machinery and equipment (7.1%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (5.6%), automobiles (3.9%), other retail categories (3.8%), department stores (2.0%), and food and beverages (1.1%). By contrast, retail trade declined for clothing and personal goods (-7.5%), fuel (-5.6%), and non-store retailers (-5.5%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose 0.6% in November, easing from a 1.6% gain in October, which was the strongest increase since September 2021.
2025-12-25
Japan Retail Sales Rise the Most in 4 Months
Retail sales in Japan increased 1.7% year-on-year in October 2025, accelerating from a downwardly revised 0.2% rise in the previous month, surpassing market expectations for a 0.8% increase and marking the fastest pace since June. Sales advanced in machinery and equipment (8.0%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (5.1%), automobiles (4.8%), other retail categories (3.6%), and department stores (3.1%). By contrast, declines were seen in fuel (-3.3%), non-store retailers (-3.3%), textiles, clothing, and personal goods (-1.7%), and food and beverages (-0.2%). On a monthly basis, retail sales climbed 1.6% in October, following a downwardly revised stall in September and marking the strongest growth in three months.
2025-11-27