TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Sales at supermarkets open for at least one year declined 1.5 pct in March from a year before to 1.128 trln yen, falling for the 15th month in a row, as a sharp drop in temperature during the month hit sales

of spring clothing, the Japan Chain Stores Association said.

Sales have dropped for 36 of the last 37 months. Sales were down 1.6 pct in February.

The figures are based on the combined sales of 83 supermarket chains which together run 8,786

outlets. The data have been adjusted to facilitate comparison on a same-store basis.

Including sales at stores newly opened during the past year, revenue rose 0.4 pct from a year earlier, the second straight monthly increase.

For the full year ended March, supermarket store sales on a same-store basis fell 2.6 pct to 14.022 trln yen, while unadjusted sales dropped 0.9 pct.

The association said supermarket sales last month fell in four of five categories.

Sales of food — the largest category, accounting for 61.1 pct of total revenue — rose 0.5 pct from a year earlier.

Sales of household products — the second-largest category, accounting for 19.7 pct of the total — declined 3.4 pct.

Sales of clothing — the third-largest category, accounting for 12.2 pct of revenue — were down 5.4 pct.

Sales of miscellaneous items — which accounted for 6.5 pct of revenue — dropped 1.5 pct.

Sales of services — which accounted for 0.4 pct of the total — fell 47.7 pct.

(1 usd = 118.60 yen)

kaori.kaneko@xfn.com

kk/mas