Japanese Convenience Store Sales in September 2023 Rise 3.5%, Customer Spending Drops First Time in a Year

Japanese convenience store sales rose by 3.5% in September 2023, reaching 935.2 billion yen ($6.8 billion), as reported by the Japan Franchise Association.

This marks the 19th consecutive month of increased sales, driven by strong demand for ice cream, chilled noodles, and beverages during the lingering summer heat. However, the average customer spending at existing stores decreased by 0.3% to 712 yen ($5.10), the first drop in 12 months, attributed in part to the rebound from last year's surge in demand ahead of an e-cigarette price hike and rising prices for raw materials.

Analysts are monitoring future trends to assess if the decline in average spending per customer is temporary.

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