Supermarket sales fell to a 22-year low of ¥12.3 trillion last year as the sluggish economy took its toll on consumers, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Monday.

Although sales fell at a slower pace of 2.6 percent in 2010, compared with 4.3 percent the previous year, it stretched the continuous decline into its 14th year, reflecting the public's prolonged reluctance to spend, the association said.

Sales of foodstuffs, the biggest moneymaker for supermarkets, fell 2.3 percent to ¥7.7 trillion, while sales of clothing fell 4.4 percent to ¥1.3 trillion.