Japan's retail sales recovering

28 June 2011 Last updated at 01:03 GMT Japanese consumers have refrained from spending in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami Retail sales in Japan fell less-than-forecast in May as the country starts to recover from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

Retail sales fell 1.3% in May compared with the same month last year, according to the latest government data.

However, compared with the previous month, retail sales rose by 2.4%.

Analysts said that the numbers were an indicator that the Japanese economy was starting to recover.

"The pace of decline has slowed, reflecting a quick recovery from the damage to supply chains," said Hioshi Miyazaki of Shinkin Asset Management Company.

Natural factor

While improving supply chain conditions have played their part in better output from Japanese factories, analysts said that natural factors such as the weather was also playing a part.

"Summer clothing seems to have sold well due to the hot weather in May," said Junko Nishioka of RBS Securities.

"This trend may continue in June and beyond," she added.

Mari Iwashita of SMBC Nikko Securities added that a change in weather may have a positive affect, not just on retail sales but also on other areas of the economy.

"A hot summer could result in more spending, especially with corporations allowing employees to take longer summer holidays." said Mr Iwashita.

"The picture may not be bad if summer bonuses are spent domestically, such as on travel," he added.

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Royal wedding boosts retail sales

19 May 2011 Last updated at 14:38 GMT The royal wedding gave people an extra day in which to shop UK retail sales rose by more than expected in April, boosted by the extra public holiday for the royal wedding, and the warm weather.

Sales last month were 1.1% higher than March, said the Office for National Statistics. Demand rose most for clothing, footwear and food products.

It was the biggest rise in retail sales for April since 2002.

But economists warn the big rise in sales is likely to be a one-off, and that consumer spending remains muted.

Weaker May?

Analysts were prepared for the extra public holiday to give retail sales a boost last month, but expected them to rise by only 0.8%.

George Buckley of Deutsche Bank said: "On the face of it they are stronger numbers. It's looking a little better, but I suspect we will get some pay-back in May."

April was the warmest on record in the UK, and this appears to have lifted sales of clothing and footwear, which rose by 3.2% as people bought summer items. Food sales were up 2.2%.

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The strong retail sales figures for April strengthen hopes that the economy has continued to grow in the second quarter of the year”

End Quote David Kern BRC chief economist Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, also said the April figures should be treated with caution.

"While welcome, we strongly doubt that the 1.1% jump in retail sales volumes in April is a sign that the consumer is roaring back to life," he said.

"Rather, what it suggests is that pressurised consumers need a particularly favourable set of circumstances to part with their cash."

Last week, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) also said that the warm weather and extra public holiday had boosted sales in April, which it reported had risen 5.2% on a like-for-like basis.

The BRC said champagne and garden furniture were among the items most in demand as the nation celebrated the royal wedding and enjoyed the sunshine.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the latest official retail figures were "encouraging".

BCC chief economist David Kern added: "The strong retail sales figures for April strengthen hopes that the economy has continued to grow in the second quarter of the year."

A separate report by the CBI business organisation said that growth in British factory orders had accelerated more than expected in May.

The CBI's monthly industrial trends survey also found that the level of inflation faced by factories had eased to its lowest level since December of last year.

However, the latest figures from the UK car industry show that it has been affected by a reduction in the supply of parts caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said production in April was 7% lower than a year earlier.

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US new home sales rise in April

24 May 2011 Last updated at 15:24 GMT New-home sales make up only a small proportion of the US housing market US new home sales rose for the second month in a row in April, climbing 7.3% on the month before, figures show.

April sales came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 323,000 homes, the Commerce Department said, which was stronger than analysts had forecast.

But sales are still at historically low levels and April's figure was 23.1% below that of April 2010.

In February 2011, new-home sales had fallen to a rate of 278,000, the lowest since records began in 1963.

The better-than-expected improvement in April signals a slight pick-up in the depressed construction sector.

However, in terms of total sales, new home sales represent only a small portion of the US housing market.

Sales of previously-owned homes unexpectedly fell by 0.8% in April to an annual rate of 5.05 million, the National Association of Realtors said last week.

And despite mortgage rates being at historic lows and rock-bottom house prices, would-be homebuyers face high unemployment and a weak economic recovery.

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