TOKYO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nationwide supermarket sales in Japan rose 3.1 percent in July from a year earlier, marking the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year growth, data from the Japan Chain Stores Association showed.
Food sales, which account for about 70 percent of total revenue, climbed 3.6 percent, offsetting a continued decline in some items as households sought to save amid persistent price hikes.
Higher prices for rice curbed demand, while frozen foods and bread performed strongly. Hot weather also boosted sales of chilled noodles and prepared foods such as tempura.
By contrast, sales of household goods fell 1.4 percent and apparel dropped 2.8 percent.
The association noted that consumers continued to make bulk purchases of daily necessities during sales, while rising summer expenses were prompting households to cut back on food spending, underscoring heightened price sensitivity. ■
