Inflation adds £133 to household costs

Inflation has added the equivalent of seven extra shops to the average household’s annual grocery bill, figures show.

Supermarket sales growth accelerated to 5 per cent over the three months to 18 June, the strongest increase since March 2012 and a stark contrast to the 0.2 per cent decline seen this time last year, despite the ongoing political and economic uncertainty.

The robust growth was “partly” helped by grocery inflation increasing to 3.2 per cent, adding £133 to the average household shopping bill, the Kantar Worldpanel grocery market share data reveals.

Butter is almost 20 per cent more expensive than last year while farmed salmon supply issues contributed to a 14 per cent price rise for fish.

However, sales of ice cream and cider have increased by 12 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, even ahead of the recent heatwave.

Fraser Mckevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar Worldpanel, said: “The market’s robust performance this period is partly down to particularly weak sales growth last year and a continuing increase in likefor-like grocery inflation, which is now running at 3.2 per cent.

“At this rate, that’s an extra £133 on the average household’s annual shopping bill, the equivalent of seven additional shopping trips a year.”