[THE INVESTOR] Major department stores sales increased in August compared to last year, according to government data on Sept. 29.

The combined sales of three department stores -- Hyundai, Lotte and Shinsegae -- gained 4.1 percent on-year last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Their sales of groceries jumped 14.5 percent on-year as a number of people purchased foodstuffs as gifts ahead of Chuseok that fell on Sept. 15.

However, those of major discount stores E-mart, Lotte Mart and Home Plus edged down 1.3 percent due to a 14.8-percent drop in sales of sports and leisure items amid a scorching heat wave that hit the country.

Sales at convenience stores jumped 16.1 percent on-year last month, boosted by a dramatic rise in food sales, mostly ready-to-eat meals, while sales at super supermarkets, mostly run by large retailers, slid 0.6 percent on-year, the data showed.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)