Supermarket sales fell 2.1 percent in July from a year earlier on a same-store basis, declining for the fourth consecutive month since the April 1 consumption tax hike, an industry body said Thursday.

Sales at 9,252 stores operated by 60 supermarket chains totaled ¥1.09 trillion, according to the Japan Chain Stores Association.

Food sales, accounting for about 64 percent of the total, declined 0.5 percent.

Clothing sales fell 8.6 percent, while sales of everyday products such as interior and sundry goods shrank 2.7 percent due to lower sales for summer items amid unfavorable weather.

All items posted narrower declines in monthly sales than in the previous month.