Supermarket sales in Japan were up 9.3 percent in March from a year earlier, mainly due to higher grocery sales.

The Japan Chain Stores Association said on Tuesday that sales at 10,920 supermarkets across the country totaled 1.2 trillion yen, or about 7.9 billion dollars. Sales during the reporting month increased for the 13th consecutive month.

Grocery sales, which account for 70 percent of total sales, rose 11.7 percent due to the spread of price hikes in stores, as well as a slight improvement in the trend toward "less buying."

Sales of household products, including games, kitchenware and other daily necessities, rose 7.4 percent in the month, while sales of clothing sank 3.3 percent.

Supermarket sales in fiscal 2023, which ended last month, rose 3.7 percent from the previous year.

The association says that actual operating conditions at each store are more challenging than the number suggests, as higher storefront prices are covering sales.