10th Nov 2026 08:00
(Alliance News) - UK grocery price inflation accelerated into November, data on Tuesday showed, as the Halloween theme and a public awareness effort to stock up on essentials supported supermarket sales.
Grocery price inflation accelerated to 2.6% over the four weeks to November 1, from 2.5% in the prior four weeks, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator.
"Grocery price inflation continued to increase after slowing over the summer. While prices are rising at a slower rate than at the beginning of the year, the direction of travel has changed. Household budgets have already taken a hit after the latest increase to the energy price cap arrived with the cold weather in October, and shoppers will be keeping a close eye on prices at the tills this winter," Worldpanel's Fraser McKevitt said.
Take-home grocery sales in the UK increased 2.2% on-year over the four weeks.
During the wider 12-week stretch of the survey, sales were 1.7% higher on-year at GBP35.94 billion from GBP35.35 billion.
Worldpanel said sales of key supplies surged following a UK government's public awareness campaign encouraging consumers to prepare for up to three days of disruption to essential services. Worldpanel said that while sales increased, it was not evidence of panic-buying.
Worldpanel added: "In the ten days after the campaign was launched, sales of hand sanitiser increased by 83% compared to the corresponding period last year, with sales of bottled water (+67%) and tinned and jarred goods (+37%) also rising. The number of people buying tinned meat each day after the launch of the campaign rose by 43%, equivalent to an extra 400,000 shoppers a day, yet the typical amount bought remained at around 500g in terms of pack size."
Meanwhile, the number of pumpkins sold rose 10% on-year, though the average price eased by 12% to GBP1.20. Tubs of sugar confectionery saw sales increases of 28%.
By grocer, Tesco PLC sales rose 1.2% on-year to GBP9.99 billion over the 12 weeks, but its market share weakened a touch to 27.8% from 27.9%.
J Sainsbury PLC sales rose 0.8% to GBP5.56 billion though it similarly lost market share, fading to 15.5% from 15.6% a year prior.
Ocado made a market share inroad to 2.3% from 2.1%, with sales up 12% to GBP822 million. The Ocado Retail Ltd online grocery joint-venture is co-owned by Ocado PLC and Marks & Spencer Group PLC.
Elsewhere, Asda's market share dwindled to 11.3% from 11.6% a year prior, while Aldi's slipped to 10.4% from 10.5%. Lidl's share of the UK grocery market rose to 8.6% from 8.2%.
Focus now turns to the key festive period.
McKevitt said: "Many households will be planning their Christmas spending more carefully this year, making Black Friday an important moment for shoppers looking to make their money go further on big-ticket items, while retailers will be hoping it gets the golden quarter off to a strong start."
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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