Grocery inflation rises as Be Ready campaign spurs stockpiling

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 10 Nov, 08:20 · Archive

Supermarket prices rose to 2.6% higher than a year ago in October as shoppers responded to the Government's Be Ready campaign.

Grocery price inflation rose again in October, reaching 2.6% compared with a year earlier, up from 2.5% the previous month, according to Worldpanel by Numerator figures.

The increase coincided with a significant jump in sales of essential supplies after the Government launched its Be Ready public awareness campaign on 22 October. In the 10 days following the campaign launch, sales of hand sanitiser increased by 83% compared with the same period last year, bottled water sales rose by 67%, and tinned and jarred goods increased by 37%. The number of people buying tinned meat each day rose by 43%, equivalent to an extra 400,000 shoppers daily, though the typical amount bought remained about 500g.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said the price direction had changed after several months of slower growth. 'While prices are rising at a slower rate than at the beginning of the year, the direction of travel has changed,' he said. He noted that household budgets have been hit by the latest increase to the energy price cap arriving with cold weather in October, and shoppers would be watching prices carefully through winter.

McKevitt emphasised that the surge in purchases did not represent panic buying. 'Shoppers clearly took notice of the Be Ready campaign, but this wasn't panic buying, with less than a third of households buying bottled water in October,' he said. The gradual increase in tinned meat purchases, with consistent quantities per buyer, suggested households were stockpiling at a measured pace rather than buying frantically.

How it is being reported

• Grocery inflation rises as shoppers stock up on tinned goods and bottled water for 'Be Ready’ campaignShoppers began responding to the Be Ready public awareness campaign from 22 OctoberThe Independent · 10 Nov, 08:35
• Grocery inflation edges up as sales of essentials jump for ‘Be Ready’ campaignSupermarket prices are now 2.6% higher than a year ago, up from 2.5% last month, data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows.Evening Standard · 10 Nov, 08:21
• Grocery inflation rises as sales of essentials jump for Labour's ‘Be Ready’ campaignShoppers have responded to the Be Ready public awareness campaign, which encourages households to prepare for up to three days in the event of disruption.Daily Express · 10 Nov, 08:00
• Grocery inflation edges up as sales of essentials jump for ‘Be Ready’ campaignSupermarket prices are now 2.6% higher than a year ago, up from 2.5% last month, data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows.Independent Business · 10 Nov, 08:00
• Grocery inflation edges up as sales of essentials jump for ‘Be Ready’ campaignSupermarket prices are now 2.6% higher than a year ago, up from 2.5% last month, data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows.Evening Standard · 10 Nov, 08:00

In this story: Government · Worldpanel by Numerator · Fraser McKevitt

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log