Sales at discount chains, department stores rise in July

SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Yonhap) -- Sales at South Korea's major discount chains and department stores rose from a year earlier in July on growing demand for groceries and luxury goods, a government report showed Tuesday. Combined sales of the country's three major discount chains rose 4.9 percent last month from the same period in 2010 with those of three leading department store chains rising 8.5 percent, according to the report by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. "Sales of discount outlets rose mainly on growing demand during the vacation season and an increase of holidays (from four Sundays in 2010 to five Sundays)," the report said. Grocery sales at discount outlets rose 5.8 percent in July as the long rainy season, along with growing demand during the holiday season, pushed up prices of fresh vegetables. Sales of foodstuffs at department stores also rose 10.4 percent on-year. The overall increase of sales at department stores was largely led by a 15.3 percent growth in sales of luxury goods, according to the report. The long rainy season led to a 10.8 percent increase in sales of household products as it prevented outdoor activities, but it also led to a 0.6 percent drop in sales of electronic appliances. The monthly report does not provide monetary sums of sales at the three discount chains -- Lotte Mart, E-Mart and Homeplus. The three department store chains are Lotte, Shinsegae and Hyundai.