A panel of MPs and peers has concluded that the government should wait until the Competition Commission inquiry into the grocery market is completed before making any changes to the Sunday trading regime.
The report, Whose Convenience?, sponsored by the Relationships Foundation, was written by a panel headed by chairman Lord Anderson.
It also accused the Department of Trade & Industry of "a major error of judgment" for making the remit of its current review of Sunday trading laws, set up last year, based on narrow economic indicators rather than broader social considerations.
The Sunday trading regime was recently in focus at a meeting of the All Party Retail Industry Group, at which politicians from all parties expressed concern about potential changes to the current law.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) submitted evidence to the Whose Convenience? inquiry and also attended the All Party Retail Industry Group meeting.
ACS public affairs manager James Lowman said: "The message from Parliament is coming through loud and clear - any change to Sunday trading hours would be dreadfully unpopular and would be met with some considerable opposition from all shades of the political spectrum.
"There is no consumer demand for an extension to Sunday trading hours - research shows that more than two-thirds of people do not wish to see a change in the law. Tens of thousands of pounds of turnover would be lost by convenience stores if large stores were given the opportunity to open for longer on a Sunday."
He added: "This revenue is vital to the survival of these stores and could make the difference between them remaining in the local community or going out of business."
Further pressure against liberalisation also exists through a parliamentary Early Day Motion opposing any changes, which has now attracted 221 MPs' signatures.