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The company recorded a figure excluding fuel of 0.8 per cent for the 13 weeks to May 2nd, down from the six per cent like-for-like climb it recorded over the course of 2009.
Its shares were down 6p to 272.8p at 13:51 BST, however the firm said it had anticipated the dip in transactions.
"The new financial year has seen the anticipated slowdown in the market," it said in a trading update, explaining lower market growth has been caused by the continued decline of commodity prices, which has resulted in "the virtual elimination of food inflation".
Morrisons said it was "satisfied" with its performance over the quarter, noting sales were higher than those of its competitors and that it saw a record number of shoppers visit its stores over the quarter.
Posted by Clive Arneil
