TOKYO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Convenience store sales in Japan declined 3.0 percent compared to a year earlier in September for a seventh consecutive month of decrease amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an industry body said Tuesday.
However, the pace of decline slowed from the previous month as cigarette sales grew ahead of a tobacco tax hike, the Japan Franchise Association said.
Sales for seven major convenience store operators on a same-store basis amounted to 866.71 billion yen (8.2 billion U.S. dollars) in September, according to the association.
The number reflected falling spending as people tend to work from home and also an increased number of rainy days that caused people to go out less frequently.
The number of shoppers going to the stores stood at 1.26 billion, dropping 11.1 percent from a year earlier, the association said.
Average spending per person increased 9.0 percent to 686.4 yen (6.5 dollars) as customers bought more fresh and frozen foods and spend more time at home due to the pandemic. Enditem
