This is an analysis of the Commercial Statistics Survey confirmed report for June 2025 published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), examining sales trends in wholesale and retail businesses.
The Commercial Statistics Survey is a fundamental survey that investigates monthly sales amounts, inventory levels, and inventory turnover rates for wholesale and retail businesses nationwide, serving as a crucial indicator for understanding Japan's commercial activity trends. The June 2025 confirmed report publishes detailed sales performance data by industry sector and business scale, showing year-over-year and month-over-month change rates.
The survey is conducted by selecting approximately 30,000 establishments with high sales revenues from about 750,000 commercial establishments nationwide, covering approximately 75% of total sales. For wholesale businesses, it captures industry-specific sales trends including machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, food and beverages, construction materials, and chemical products. For retail businesses, it tracks trends by business format including department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, large electronics specialty stores, and drugstores.
Starting from January 2025, level adjustments have been implemented based on the 2021 Economic Census for Business Activity, resulting in statistical discontinuity with figures prior to December 2024. Therefore, year-over-year comparisons are calculated using link coefficients to ensure continuity. This survey serves as essential reference material widely utilized for understanding consumption trends, economic assessment, and business analysis in the retail and wholesale industries.