Convenience store sales dropped 4.9 percent in March from a year earlier on a same store basis to ¥596.89 billion, extending the losing streak to 10 months, an industry body said Tuesday.

The continued contraction of sales was due in part to the unusually cold weather in the second half of the month, which dampened demand among vacationers, the Japan Franchise Association said.

The average purchase per person in March was ¥566.6, down 3.4 percent for the 16th straight month of decline.