Sales at department stores rise slightly in March

By KH디지털2

Published : April 28, 2016 - 14:06

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Korea's major department stores saw their sales edge up in March from a year earlier, but sales of discount chains retreated amid sluggish domestic demand, government data showed Thursday.

The combined sales of three department stores -- Hyundai, Lotte and Shinsegae -- edged up 0.3 percent on-year last month, while those of major discount stores of E-Mart, Lotte Mart and Home Plus fell 4.6 percent, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Lotte Department Store (Yonhap)

The ministry said brisk sales of luxury fashion and jewelry brands and foodstuffs led the slight increase in sales of department stores as the companies strengthened promotion events ahead of the wedding season, offsetting a fall in sales of handbags and shoes.

But sales of large outlets declined due to a drop in sales of hiking gears and stationery and clothing for young students at the beginning of the new school semester.

Sales at convenience stores, in contrast, continued to grow by a large margin, spiking 20.1 percent on-year last month, helped by a rise in cigarette sales.

Sales at super supermarkets, mostly run by large retailers, inched up 0.6 percent on-year, according to the latest data. (Yonhap)

Sales at department stores rise slightly in March

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