Japan Dec retail sales rise 2.5 pct year/year

TOKYO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Japanese retail sales rose
2.5 percent in December from a year earlier, government data
showed on Friday, helped by sales of winter clothing and cars.
    The climb was greater than a median market forecast for a
2.3 percent annual increase, the data from the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry showed.
    Details were as follows (previous figures may be revised;
economists' median forecast in parentheses):

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    Retail sales   DECEMBER       NOVEMBER    OCTOBER
-----------------------------------------------------
    year/year     +2.5(+2.3)     -2.2        +1.9
    month/month   +0.3           -2.0        +1.4
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    To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry at: