JAPAN DATA: Sales at some of the largest Japanese….

JAPAN DATA: Sales at some of the largest Japanese department store
chains were lackluster in January. Sales at Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings
rose 0.8% on year in January, with a pace of increase little changed
from +0.4% in December. Meanwhile, those at Takashimaya fell 1.9% in
January vs. +1.0% in December. Takashimaya said demand for jewelry and
other luxury goods remained strong but that heavy snowfalls and low
temperature kept shoppers away in some areas of Japan last month.