S.Korea department store sales rise for 4th month

Published: 16 Jul 2009 17:18:13 PST

SEOUL, July 17 - Sales at South Korea's top three department stores grew for a fourth successive month in June, data showed on Friday, adding to hopes that recovery in Asia's fourth-largest economy was sustained.

Combined sales at Lotte Shopping Co Ltd <023530.KS>, Shinsegae Co Ltd <004170.KS> and Hyundai Department Store Co Ltd <069960.KS> rose 3.6 percent in June over a year earlier, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in a statement.

That was slower than a 5.4 percent annual gain in May but extended the streak of annual growth into the fourth month.

But combined sales at the big discount stores fell 1.4 percent in June from a year earlier, after gains of 1.6 percent in May and 0.1 percent in April, the ministry said.