UK households spent £1.1bn extra on groceries in December, spending higher than a year ago

Key takeaways: 

• Spending higher than a year before, with World Cup football driving up beer sales. 
• However, the most famous shopping day of the year was Friday, 23 December – when almost half of the families went to stores or got a delivery.

Households in the UK spent £1.1bn extra on groceries in December than a year before, taking Christmas spending to a history £12.8bn, but got fewer things in their baskets as runaway inflation hit home.

Rising prices in the United Kingdom: 

As a clear sign of how skyrocketing costs are whipping household budgets, the latest monthly report from retail critics Kantar showed that despite the overall amount consumers spent growing more than 9%, the sales volume was down 1% in the same month in 2021.

Many stored up on drink to enjoy while watching the men’s football World Cup, with beer sales getting the highest level for the year on the day of England’s quarter-final versus France on 10 December.

The busiest times among UK shoppers: 

However, the most famous shopping day of the year was Friday, 23 December – when almost half of the families went to stores or got a delivery.

Last month was the most active in supermarkets since the covid-19 pandemic, with online sales accounting for a lower ratio of the entire festive blowout than the previous year.

Inflation whipped the UK: 

Inflation pressed customers to cut back on some traditional choices. For instance, the number of mince pies sold slightly advanced, but the sum spent on them increased by 19%. Just 45% of households purchased brussels sprouts, down from 48% a year before. 

Nevertheless, the number of Christmas puddings sold grew 6% despite hefty inflation, meaning consumers spent 16% more on the festive dessert.

Source – The Guardian