Japan restaurant sales flat in October
Sales for fast food chains rose 5.4% last month due to demand for takeaway and delivery services.
Sales at Japan's major restaurant chains were flat in October even though the country’s state of emergency had ended at the beginning of that month.
New data from the Japan Foodservice Association revealed sales edged down by .5% from the same month last year. Comparing it to two years ago, prior to the pandemic, they were down 6.1%.
Sales for fast food chains rose 5.4% last month due to demand for takeaway and delivery services. Whilst business at pubs and izakaya restaurants started coming back, sales were still down 30.8%. Casual-dining establishment sales were down 6.5%.
Officials at the Foodservice Association say sales are recovering overall, but are concerned over rising prices of food and other items needed for the industry.