TOKYO - According to the Japan Franchise Association, Japan??s convenience store industry realized a same-store sales increase of 5.1 percent in January from a year earlier, totaling 605 billion yen ($7.27 billion U.S.), People??s Daily Online reports.

The association attributed the increase to lower temperatures that prompted sales of hot drinks and food, the third consecutive month of rising sales.

Additionally, the number of customers visiting Japanese convenience stores rose 0.7 percent to top one billion people, also the third straight monthy rise.

Per-customer sales at the country??s 10 major convenience stores increased 4.4 percent year-on-year, with each customer spending an average of 602 yen ($7.24 U.S.).