October’s Grocery Saga: Prices Keep Rising, but Your Wallet Isn’t a Piece of Cake
September was already a bit of a price roller coaster, but October decided to take the plunge one step further. Grocery prices climbed 2.3% versus the same month last year—just a hair more than the 2% bump seen in September. Analysts call it “typical,” but that doesn’t mean we can take it in stride.
What the Numbers Really Say
- Grocery inflation at 2.3% for October
- September’s rise: 2.0%—nothing exotic after all
- Retail sales over the last four weeks: £11.6 billion (a solid 2% jump)
- Highest sales month of the year so far—Ken’s grocery cartoon become a reality
Supermarket Footfall in the Age of Post‑Lockdown (and Still Not Fully Back to Pre‑Covid)
“October 2024 was the busiest month for the supermarkets since March 2020,” says Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar. “People were scrambling for essentials like the first lockdown era.”
When it comes to shop trips, households are still playing it safe: just over four trips a week on average. That’s noticeably lower than the pre‑pandemic frequency, but hey, who needs a grocery‑shopping weight‑lifting routine?
Holiday Prep: “Christmas Ads Come Early, Thanks”
All that talk of “early” summer‑season Christmas advertising? Apparently, retailers have already been busy—Households are stocking up for December in a way that feels almost like a pre‑Christmas countdown. “Some people think the ads hit our screens too soon,” murmurs McKevitt, “but it’s clear that early stocking is crucial for the retailers.”
Bottom line: Prices keep creeping up, but consumers still out the door, and the market feels alive. As we inch toward the season of gifting, make sure your pantry is ready—Christmas might just arrive before the holiday playlist does.
