TOKYO -- Bic Camera's operating profit likely sank about 20% on the year to 13.5 billion yen ($108 million) for the nine months from September to May as sales of large household appliances flagged.
The electronics retailer's sales are seen falling 6% to around 595 billion yen. Demand ahead of Japan's consumption tax hike spurred a roughly 50% spike in month-on-month sales in March 2014 -- particularly for refrigerators, washing machines and other pricey big appliances -- but sales slumped after the April tax increase. Sales plummeted nearly 40% on the year in March 2015.
