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Data from Statistics Bureau of Japan. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
JapanJapan Retail Sales YoY climbed to 2.1% in April 2026
Statistics Bureau of JapanMonthlyReleased May 2026
Japan Retail Sales YoY climbed to 2.1% in April 2026, released May 2026, up 0.7% from March's 1.4% reading. The print exceeded the 1.3% consensus by 0.8%. Retail Sales YoY has now risen for 3 consecutive months. Over the past 3 months, Retail Sales YoY averaged 0.75%, vs 0.63% in the prior 3-month window. Retail Sales YoY is now the highest in 10 months.
Latest Release
2.1
Actual
1.3
Consensus
1.4
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±1.23 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
May 2026
Predicted: 0.8
Actual: 2.1
Error: -1.3
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Signal Bias | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikkei 225 | ▼ Inverse | −0.67 | INDEX | Bearish Nikkei 225 | → View |
| XAU/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.46 | COMMODITIES | Bullish XAU | → View |
| S&P 500 | ▼ Inverse | −0.34 | INDEX | Bearish S&P 500 | → View |
| GBP/JPY | ▼ Inverse | −0.31 | FOREX | Bearish GBP | → View |
| AUD/JPY | ▼ Inverse | −0.26 | FOREX | Bearish AUD | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Retail Sales YoY (Japan) was reported at 2.1% in May 2026. This beat the market consensus of 1.3% by 0.8%. The reading rose from the previous value of 1.4%. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through May 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 0.85%, ranging from -1.1% to 2.2% across 11 releases. This is classified as a medium-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 1.23%, up from the prior three at 0.6%. Volatility over the past year (σ 1.16%) is higher than the prior year (σ 1.04%). In May readings over the past 3 years, Retail Sales YoY has averaged 2.6%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is negatively correlated with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225). A secondary relationship exists with XAU/USD, positively correlated (Bullish XAU). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 1.23%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for June 26, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include Monetary Policy Statement (Jun 16) and BoJ Interest Rate Decision (Jun 16).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update May 2026.
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Retail Sales YoY - JP
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About Retail Sales YoY — Japan
DEFINITION
Retail Sales YoY (Year-over-Year) is a financial indicator that measures the change in the total value of goods and services sold by retailers compared to the same period in the previous year. It provides insight into the strength of consumer spending and overall economic growth, making it a key metric for investors, businesses, and policymakers. A positive YoY growth indicates an increase in consumer demand, while a negative growth may signal a decline in consumer confidence and potential economic slowdown.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Consumer activity accounts for the majority of GDP in advanced economies, making spending data a key cyclical signal for retail and discretionary sectors. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Apr 2026): actual 2.1 %, consensus 1.3 %. Prior reading (Mar 2026): 1.7 %. Before that (Feb 2026): -0.2 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with Nikkei 225 (Bearish Nikkei 225, r=-0.67) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.