Overview
- Worldpanel by Numerator reported on Tuesday that grocery price inflation slowed to 3.0% in the four weeks to June 14, down from 3.1% in May and 3.8% in April.
- Nominal grocery sales rose 2.4% year‑on‑year but volumes fell after accounting for inflation, showing shoppers spent more but bought fewer items.
- Promotions remain heavy at 30.4% of sales and helped hold down bills while squeezing retailer margins during the period that included World Cup deals.
- A record May heatwave and World Cup demand lifted summer categories, with suncare up 128% and fresh beef burgers up 40%, boosting short‑term sales.
- Market share shifts show Ocado and Lidl growing fastest while Asda continues to lose ground, and the British Retail Consortium warns rising input costs from the Middle East conflict could lift food inflation in the months ahead.