Food bills on course to rise by £275 a year as prices jump

[rebbonk]

The average household spend on food and drink is on course to rise by £275 this year as the price of groceries gathers pace.

Over the past month, food prices have risen by 5.2% at the same time as consumers' concerns about the cost of shopping has accelerated, according to market research firm Worldpanel.

It said people are changing their shopping habits to buying supermarkets' own-brand products, which are sometimes cheaper, as well as preparing simpler and lower cost meals at home.

The increase in prices over the last four weeks is the highest since the beginning of 2024.

On average, UK households spend around £5,283 for a year on groceries but this could increase by £275 unless people change what they buy.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, formerly known as Kantar, said current food inflation brought to mind the sort of prices people were paying in supermarkets after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

The cost of energy and commodities soared before easing in 2023. But Mr McKevitt said: "We're back up on that rollercoaster."

Chocolate, butter and spreads as well as fresh meat recorded the sharpest rises in the four weeks to 17 July, according to the company, which monitors prices on 75,000 identical products.

At the same time, the cost of dog food, sugar confectionery and laundry dropped.

Mr McKevitt said most people have options when it comes to managing food costs such as buying more own-brands goods from supermarkets, looking for promotions or going to cheaper shops.

Source: bbc

I suspect that this is going to increase rapidly...

[margaret]

Rebbonk,, I can't say that food as gone up that much. Yes its gone up but not hugely in my estimation.
I was just looking at those nettles that grow in the garden , I have had nettle tops included meal, they are extremely nutritious. I tried them years ago and may do again. totally free of sprays.

I know I"m retired but we do budget and survive quite well on a good diet. By making a pot of stew or soup , last for 3 days, you can obviously freeze it. I by frozen chicken breasts from Waitrose , once a week , fish. butter I spread thinly, I buy bread flour to make my own bread. I do buy the odd cakes and Tea cakes. but as a treat . I think we eat quite meagerly. though we don't go without fruit or veg.

When you look at some folks shopping carts they are full of what I call non nutrition junk food, they are piled high with drinks ,, booze, crisps , cereals for kids, that are full of starch and sugar. etc... I guess for busy working families they don't get a lot of time to cook ahead of time and freeze stuff.

[rebbonk]

Like you, Margaret, I do budget. I've also been known to make my own bread and forage for nature's delicacies.

I no longer physically go to the supermarkets, preferring online ordering, so I likely miss a few bargains, but it's worth it not to be jostled and pushed by other customers. However, even when shopping online, I have meals planned and a shopping list that I stick to. - It ain't rocket science, is it?

[margaret]

Like you, Margaret, I do budget. I've also been known to make my own bread and forage for nature's delicacies.

I no longer physically go to the supermarkets, preferring online ordering, so I likely miss a few bargains, but it's worth it not to be jostled and pushed by other customers. However, even when shopping online, I have meals planned and a shopping list that I stick to. - It ain't rocket science, is it?

Yes, I agree. Just the other day on a walk I couldn't believe that wild blackberries have ripened already, I 'd love to pick a few and use them or freeze them. Also there are a couple plum or maybe damson trees in Redlands park near us so I will wait till they ripen.
I was also thinking , really poor families can maybe eat pigeons and squirrels. I don't think its illegal to trap them. I know we love to preserve our Red Squirrels and they are rare, but its those gray squirrels that need culling. They are very destructive.

[margaret]

Waitrose offer discounts for members. Get a few bob knocked off on some items you buy on a regular basis.