UK shoppers seek deals as grocery price inflation rises again
Price of chocolates falls in run-up to Halloween, while supermarkets use special offers to draw in sales Business live – latest updates Grocery price inflation in the UK has picked
By The Guardian
UK shoppers are increasingly turning to supermarket special offers as grocery price inflation rises, while chocolate confectionery prices have fallen ahead of Halloween.
Prices were 2.5% higher in the four weeks to 4 October than during the same period last year, according to Worldpanel by Numerator data. The figure was up from 2.3% in the previous four-week period.
Spending on promotional offers increased by more than £250m compared with last year. The discounts are helping households manage grocery bills and make higher-priced products and larger packs more affordable.
Overall take-home grocery sales rose by 1% year on year during the four-week period. Once the impact of inflation is taken into account, that indicates a fall in the volume of goods sold.
Price changes varied across different categories. Water, cordials and skincare products recorded some of the fastest increases, while butter, cheese and chocolate saw the sharpest falls.
Chocolate confectionery prices were 3% lower than a year earlier, offering some relief to shoppers buying treats ahead of Halloween. Worldpanel said the fall followed double-digit price increases during 2025 but did not fully reverse the impact of those earlier rises.
Seasonal shopping has also begun to change as temperatures have fallen. The number of shoppers buying hot chocolate rose by 41% in September compared with August, while soup purchases increased by 35%.
About 1.2 million households bought a pumpkin during the four weeks to 4 October, 10% more than in the same period last year.
The latest figures provide an early indication of food-price pressures before the official UK inflation figures for September are released on 21 October.