People who are worried about the economic slowdown visit our stores instead of dining out.

I often do this. A delicious sandwich pack from our local Lawson is as good as a viking buffet at a restaurant in town any day.

So, let's see, that's convenience stores along with cell phone shops and "sarakin" loan shark operations that are doing well in the current economy, judging by the number of them popping up. Any others?

Mmm...artificial preservatives, colorings and flavorings.

Of course they are, many here drink away their sorrows on a daily basis. The number of passed out oyagi has incresed 2 fold in my home train station since September and increases in numbers on daily basis. I use they "drunken oyaji meter" to measure how things are. All of them have their Lawson bag in their lap.

500 ml of tea at a grocery store: 100 yen. At a convenience store: 150 yen.

A loaf of bread at a grocery store: 140 yen. Three cans of tuna at a grocery store: 220 yen. Enough for about four sandwiches. One tuna sandwich at a convenience store: 250 yen.

Evidently people who are worried about the economic slow down don't mind being gouged on prices (50% on the tea)

I often do this. A delicious sandwich pack from our local Lawson is as good as a viking buffet at a restaurant in town any day

A loaf of proper bread from a proper bakery, plus a tomato and a pack of supermarket ham will cost you less and taste twice as good. Conbini is cheaper than resraurant, but not as cheap as home-cooked food, and not nearly as good. And if you have time to go to a Lawson, you have time to make yourself a proper sandwich.