— See Separate Table For Details Of Individual Forecasts

TOKYO (MNI) – Japanese retail sales in October appear to have risen
0.6% on year, posting the first y/y gain in three months after a revised
-1.1% in September and -2.6% in August, according to the median forecast
by economists polled by Market News International.

The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry will release the data at
0850 JST on Tuesday, Nov. 29 (2350 GMT Monday).

Other data indicate October retail sales will show better figures
than in September as lower temperatures supported autumn and winter
clothing sales and spending by visitors from overseas is recovering from
the slump caused by the nuclear radiation scare.

Department store sales in Japan fell 0.5% in October, with the pace
of decline decelerating from -2.4% in September, while October
supermarket sales dropped 0.9% on year, improving from -3.6% in the
previous month.

New vehicle sales rose 28.3% y/y in October, up sharply from +1.7%
in September.

In September, retail sales slumped as car sales were weak and demand
for digital TVs remained sluggish after rush purchases in July, when
Japan terminated analogue broadcasting services.

skodama@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4838 **

[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]