Supermarket sales in Japan fell for the first time in eight months in February as food prices continue to soar, according to the latest industry data.
According to the Japan Chain Stores Association, sales at major stores across the country totaled about 1 trillion yen (7.6 billion U.S. dollars) last month, down 2 percent in yen terms from the previous year.
Food sales, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the total, fell 1.7 percent, the association said, while sales of clothing and cosmetics rose as people went out more as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
Officials at the association said that consumers are buying less per shopping trip as they are becoming more cost-conscious and thrifty amid rising food prices
