Households are facing an £837 increase in their annual shopping bills if they don’t change their shopping behaviours, according to new data from Kantar.
Grocery price inflation has climbed again to reach 17.5% over the four weeks to 19 March 2023, while take-home grocery sales grew by 8.6% over the 12-week period.
Kantar’s figures show footfall was up in every single grocer this month, with households going to the shops just over four times per week in March. Kantar says that apart from Christmas, it is the highest frequency seen since the start of the pandemic.
Fraser McKevitt, Head of Retail and Consumer Insight, Worldpanel Division, UK, said: “Unfortunately, it’s more bad news for the British public, who are experiencing the ninth month of double-digit grocery price inflation. However, shoppers are taking action and clearly hunting around for the best value.”
He added: “Store cards have emerged as an important way to provide value amid the high cost of living with the grocer offering cheaper prices, coupons and points for people who scan them at the till. Our latest data shows that more than nine in 10 of us have at least one loyalty card in our wallets and usage is on the rise.
“Shoppers are also bringing the cost of their groceries down by picking up more own label lines and sales were up again by 15.8% during the latest four weeks compared with last year. However, people are keeping some space in their baskets for the brands they know and love.
“Outside the discounters Aldi and Lidl, branded goods still make up 52% of the market and sales grew by 7.2% over the past month, the fastest rate we’ve seen since February 2021. Many brands are innovating and bringing new products to the shelves to maintain their popularity, and 10% of their sales in the last year came from new or updated items.”
The research reveals that shoppers have begun looking ahead to Easter as Spring officially arrived in March. Easter Sunday falls slightly earlier this year and chocolate egg sales are already up 6% in volume terms on last year, while sales of hot cross buns have increased by 5%.
