TOKYO: White goods shipments in Japan rose 7.1 percent in July from a year earlier to ¥242.2 billion, up for the third month in a row, an industry group said Tuesday.
The shipments, which include air conditioners, held firm thanks to higher temperatures in Japan in mid-July and later, according to the Japan Electrical Manufactures’ Association. A drop in the shipments a year before due to the April 2014 consumption tax hike also helped boost the increase for the month, according to the association.
However, the shipment value was down 9.9 percent from the level in July 2013. The latest level was almost the same as the average in the past decade, a JEMA official said. Shipments of air conditioners increased 0.2 percent to ¥107.7 billion. Shipments were up 7.1 percent to ¥46.2 billion for refrigerators and 16.3 percent to ¥23.7 billion for washing machines.
