UK grocery price inflation eases to lowest level since April

Grocery price inflation in the UK fell to its lowest level since April, and own-label products reached a record high, accounting for more than half of grocery spending.

UK grocery price inflation has eased to its lowest level since April. Sales continued to grow while shoppers remained focused on value. Own-label products reached a record high and accounted for more than half of all grocery spend. Consumer demand showed rising interest in protein and fibre options. Key facts: - Own-label products accounted for over half of grocery spending, a record high. - A Worldpanel survey reported 23% of consumers sought high-protein foods and 26% sought high-fibre options in January. - Functional beverages were bought by 11% of households, with expenditure up 13% year-on-year. - Ocado's revenue rose 14.1%, taking its market share to 2.1%. - Sainsbury's till receipts increased 5.3% and Tesco's sales grew 4.4%, with Tesco holding 28.7% of the market; Waitrose recorded the largest rise in average basket spend while its market share remained at 4.7%. - M&S grocery sales were up 6.9% year-on-year, while Asda's revenue fell 3.7% and Co-op's sales declined 1.6%. Summary: The easing of grocery inflation coincides with strong demand for own-label and certain health-focused categories, supporting continued sales growth for some retailers while others reported declines. Undetermined at this time.