TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Employee bonus payments and hot summer weather failed to brighten July all-store retail sales, which fell 2.7 pct year-on-year, accelerating from a 2.4 pct fall the month before, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. Large-store retail sales also fell, down 3.0 pct year-on-year in July after declining by 1.9 pct in June. "Generally, consumption rises in July due to bonus payments. However, as there was one less Saturday this month, the impact was limited," a ministry official said, adding: "The weather was not much hotter than last year." Price falls also offset the potential gains. "Amid the hot summer, casual clothing such as T-shirts sold well in July. However, due to continued price falls, it did not provide a major positive impact for the overall sector." Clothing sales fell 7.8 pct in July, while another seasonal favourite, food and beverages, dropped 4.7 pct. In the household products sector, solid demand for air-conditioners was offset by declines in the sale of personal computers, pushing the overall figure here down 2.0 pct. Convenience-store sales rose 4.7 pct on an adjusted basis but fell 0.7 pct once trade from newly opened stores is factored out. Non-food products sold at convenience stores rose only 0.3 pct, with demand for games software failing to exceed last year. The auto sector was up 5.5 pct due to the launch of new models, the official said. The official said the ministry held its retail sales assessment unchanged, saying the indicator is currently weak.