Cost of Christmas dinner on the rise

0 Shoppers are still expected to splash out on the out on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas despite rising costs Consumers are facing pressure from rising food prices in the lead-up to Christmas as grocery inflation hit another four-year high, figures show.

Like-for-like grocery inflation is now 3.6 per cent, topping last month’s 3.4 per cent to reach its highest level since 2013, according to quarterly data from Kantar Worldpanel.

Growth in supermarket sales lagged slightly behind the rate of inflation, rising 3.1 per cent year on year over the past three months to 3 December, while online grocery sales growth slowed to 2.8 per cent.

Despite the higher costs, shoppers are still expected to splash out on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas - 22 and 23 December - and part with £1.5 billion.

Alcohol sales are already up by nearly £172 million compared with this time last year, due primarily to consumers choosing more expensive festive tipples like gin, whisky and sparkling wine.

Aldi reclaimed its crown as Britain’s fastest-growing grocer during the latest quarter, with sales up 15.1 per cent year on year.

Analysts Nielsen predict a record £4.2 billion will be rung through the tills of the UK’S leading supermarkets in the week before Christmas Day, according to its latest figures. Just a third of shoppers are expected to spend less on food and drink than last year.