Convenience Store Sales Down 0.9% In Jan

TOKYO (NQN)--Same-store sales at convenience stores nationwide sank 0.9% on the year to 653.4 billion yen in January, marking the eighth straight month of decline, the Japan Franchise Association said Wednesday.

Sales were dented by sluggish cigarettes sales. A cold snap that brought snow on many days also put a damper on customer traffic.

Customer traffic dropped 1.9%, while spending per customer rose 1.0%. The association concluded that efforts by store operators to increase the number of outlets serving freshly brewed coffee helped boost spending.

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