FX.co ★ Japan’s Large-Scale Retail Sales Hold Steady at 3.0% YoY in February

Japan’s large-scale retail sales growth remained unchanged in February 2026, posting a 3.0% year-over-year increase, the same pace recorded in January 2026. The latest data, updated on 30 March 2026, indicate that momentum in the country’s major retail sector has neither accelerated nor weakened at the start of the year.

On a comparison basis, the February figure reflects changes relative to February a year earlier, while January’s reading was measured against January of the previous year. The steady 3.0% growth rate across both months suggests a consistent pattern in consumer spending at large retailers, with no evident month-to-month shift in underlying demand.

The flat trajectory in the year-over-year growth rate will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers, as it may signal a period of stability in retail activity rather than renewed expansion or emerging weakness in Japan’s large-scale retail segment.