TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Retail sales in Japan fell 0.2 percent on year in July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Tuesday.
That beat forecasts for a decline of 0.9 percent following the upwardly revised 1.3 percent contraction in June (originally -1.4 percent).
Sales from large retailers climbed 0.6 percent on year - missing expectations for 0.9 percent after tumbling 1.5 percent in the previous month.
On a monthly basis, retail sales jumped 1.4 percent - beating forecasts for 0.8 percent and up from 0.3 percent a month earlier.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX