Retail sales in Japan fell 0.2% yoy in February 2026, reversing a 1.8% growth in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 0.8% gain. The latest result highlighted pressures from rising costs despite recent fiscal support from Tokyo. Turnover declined in fuel (-14.1%), non-store sales (-4.2%), and clothing and personal goods (-3.1%). In contrast, gains were recorded in other retail goods (4.0%), automobiles (3.8%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (3.7%), department stores (1.9%), machinery and equipment (1.6%), and food and beverages (0.8%). On a monthly basis, retail trade declined 2.0%, reversing a downwardly revised 3.0% increase in January. source: Ministry of Economy Trade & Industry (METI)

Retail Sales in Japan decreased 0.20 percent in February of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Japan averaged 4.18 percent from 1971 until 2026, 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 April of 2026.

Retail Sales in Japan decreased 0.20 percent in February of 2026 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
2026-02-26 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Jan 1.8% -0.9% -0.4% -0.6%
2026-03-30 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Feb -0.2% 1.8% 0.8% 1.5%
2026-04-29 11:50 PM
Retail Sales YoY
Mar -0.2% 2.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Bank Lending Rate 2.90 2.75 percent Feb 2026
Consumer Confidence 40.00 37.90 points Feb 2026
Consumer Credit 58802.70 57221.70 JPY Billion Dec 2025
GDP Private Consumption 309442.20 309116.20 JPY Billion Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 432.71 1010.41 JPY Thousand Jan 2026
Gasoline Prices 1.11 1.01 USD/Liter Mar 2026
Household Spending YoY -1.00 -2.60 percent Jan 2026
Household Spending MoM -2.50 -2.20 percent Jan 2026
Households Debt to GDP 61.10 61.30 percent of GDP Sep 2025
Personal Savings 0.40 0.40 percent Sep 2025
Retail Sales MoM -2.00 4.10 percent Feb 2026
Retail Sales YoY -0.20 1.80 percent Feb 2026


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
-0.20 1.80 36.50 -14.30 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
Japan Retail Sales Unexpectedly Drop
Retail sales in Japan fell 0.2% yoy in February 2026, reversing a 1.8% growth in the previous month and missing market expectations for a 0.8% gain. The latest result highlighted pressures from rising costs despite recent fiscal support from Tokyo. Turnover declined in fuel (-14.1%), non-store sales (-4.2%), and clothing and personal goods (-3.1%). In contrast, gains were recorded in other retail goods (4.0%), automobiles (3.8%), pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (3.7%), department stores (1.9%), machinery and equipment (1.6%), and food and beverages (0.8%). On a monthly basis, retail trade declined 2.0%, reversing a downwardly revised 3.0% increase in January.
2026-03-31
Japan Retail Sales Unexpectedly Rise
Retail sales in Japan rose 1.8% yoy in January 2026, rebounding from a 0.9% decline in the previous month and beating market forecasts for a 0.4% fall. It marked the fastest growth since last June, boosted by recent fiscal stimulus measures from Tokyo, including targeted consumption vouchers and tax incentives designed to encourage household spending. Sales expanded for machinery and equipment (12.4%), automobiles (9.6%), other retail goods (3.0%), department stores (2.8%), food and beverages (1.8%), and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics (1.7%). In contrast, turnover declined for fuel (-7.3%), non-store sales (-5.3%), and clothing and personal goods (-2.1%). On a monthly basis, retail trade grew 4.1%, reversing a 2.0% decline in December and marking the strongest pace since September 2019.
2026-02-27
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