British grocery price inflation ticks up again while shoppers embrace seasonal spirits by buying more pumpkins
Grocery price inflation in the UK has risen, prompting shoppers to turn to special offers amid the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze.
Like-for-like grocery price inflation rose to 2.5 per cent over the four weeks to 4 October, up from 2.3 per cent last month, according to data released today from Worldpanel by Numerator.
Halloween preparations are also well underway, with 1.2mn households buying a pumpkin over the last four weeks, an increase of 10 per cent compared with the same time last year.
Cooler weather has also prompted a shift to comfort food, with the return of hearty home cooking and 35 per cent more shoppers buying frozen roast potatoes and 24 per cent more buying gravy.
However, the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze has continued to add pressure on household budgets, with spending on promotions in the last month up by more than a quarter of a billion pounds compared with last year.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel by Numerator, said: “With the Autumn Budget fast approaching, the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on the minds of shoppers.
Until the Chancellor sets out his plans, we expect that caution to carry on showing up at the till, with shoppers leaning more heavily on promotions to keep their grocery spend under control,” he continued.
Over the 12 weeks to 4 October, discounter Lidl led in market share gains and now controls 8.6 per cent following a 7.1 per cent sales increase driven by fruit, vegetables and wine.
Sales at online grocer Ocado also increased by 12.4 per cent, outpacing online sales across the sector at 5.5 per cent.
Beyond the supermarkets, grocery sales at M&S rose by 14.9 per cent.
