Inflation down, food costs up

Once more, food inflation has slowed, falling to the lowest level recorded this year. However, prices are continuing to increase, according to the latest findings from research group Kantar.

A survey of more than 30,000 products in Irish supermarkets revealed that shoppers paid 15.8% more for these goods in the 12 weeks to June 11 compared with the same time last year. This showed a decline from the 16.5% reported in May.

Take-home grocery sales rose by 10% in the four weeks to June 11 as consumers enjoyed spells of good weather.

Consumers were shopping little and often to snap up the best deals, with the percentage of packs sold on promotion rising to 25.8%.

This was up slightly from 24.7% last year.

Shoppers spent an additional €2.9m on beer and lager, as well as an extra €1.9m on burgers and grills. A further €1.2m was spent on sausages.

Rising sales of own-brand goods, a trend that has emerged since inflation began to rise, continued this month. Growth of own-label products jumped 15% over the 12-week period.

Sales of branded items rose by 7.8%.

In the same period, the amount spent on value own label ranges increased by €15.7m as consumers sought out the cheapest offerings to cut costs.

Up to 17% of households in Ireland now shop online,