Retail sales in Japan were up a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent on month in July, according to rttnews.
That missed expectations for an increase of 0.2 percent following the 1.5 percent spike in June.
On a yearly basis, retail sales climbed 1.5 percent - exceeding expectations for 1.2 percent and down from 1.8 percent in the previous month.
Sales from large retailers tumbled 1.6 percent on year, missing forecasts for a decline of 0.7 percent following the 1.5 percent jump a month earlier.