LONDON - Official data released last week shows that more consumers are walking to their local grocery and other small retailer, the Wall Street Journal reports. The ONS reports that local shopping trips last month boosted retail sales, but larger, out-of-town shopping strips experienced a decrease.

"There definitely has been a movement towards smaller stores," said James Lowman, CEO of the Association of Convenience Stores. "People want to buy fresh, they want to buy little and often."

Fueling the trend is the growing popularity for locally sourced food and goods, which are featured in smaller, local stores and farmers markets. Consumers concerned about pollution from shipping food coupled with an interest in smaller farms that sell fresh foods also contributes to the upswing in sales.

The ONS pointed to some support of shopper desire for a more "green" shopping experience. Other long-term trends also help local stores, such as an growing population of older consumers and single-person households?"both groups that prefer to shop in smaller batches, Lowman said.

With pump prices climbing, driving a car has become more expensive lately. Walking to local shops is one way consumers are doing to save money.