Retail in Asia

In Markets

State stimulus boosts Japan sales

Japanese retail sales jumped sharply in February as government stimulus measures encouraged consumers to spend, official figures have shown. Sales rose by 4.2 percent from a year earlier, much more than analysts had expected.

The rise happened despite falling prices in Japan, which usually encourage consumers to spend less and wait until prices fall further.

Analysts said the rise was unsustainable given the deflationary pressures in Japan.

(Source: BBC News)