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Supermarkets squeezed as households curb festive spending – Sky News, Sky.com

Supermarkets squeezed as households curb festive spending – Sky News, Sky.com


             

Budget-conscious UK households tightened their belts over Christmas as a post-election supermarket spending splurge failed to materialise, industry figures show.

Sales in the sector grew by just 0.2% in the (weeks to December compared with the same period a year ago – the weakest rate of growth for the festive period since – according to Kantar data.

Christmas pudding sales fell by (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************% while demand for seasonal biscuits dropped 13% as homes on average spent £ 8 less than in (******************************************.

  

The fruit in Christmas pudding can be fatal for dogs

      

Image:
        Christmas pudding sales fell %      

The figures came as Morrisons, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket, reported lower like-for-like revenues over Christmas, citing “unusually challenging” trading conditions.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “There was no sign of the post-election rush many had hoped for in the final weeks before Christmas, with shoppers carefully watching their budgets.

“In fact, many of us cut back on traditional and indulgent festive classics.

“Sales of Christmas puddings were down by (*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************%, while seasonal biscuits were (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************% lower.

“Turkey sales also fell by 1%, partly down to a shift from whole birds to smaller and cheaper joints such as crowns.”

The figures showed Aldi and Lidl continued to make inroads into their larger rivals’ market shares.

    

                                                                                                        

********************                                                                                             ‘Nervous optimism’ among retailers about Xmas                

Kantar said they now have a combined 7%. slice of the sector, more than three times higher than a decade ago.

Meanwhile the big four supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – all saw their sales fall over the latest – week period.

Kantar said they were Especially impacted by customers choosing to make one fewer trip to stores.

Separately, Morrisons said in a trading update that its like-for-like sales – excluding fuel – were 1.7% lower in the weeks to 5 January compared with the same period last year.

That was despite an investment in prices meaning key Christmas items cost the same or less than last year.

Morrisons said customer uncertainty experienced over the past year had continued and chief executive David Potts said the trading period had been “unusually challenging”.

But the sales decline was not as bad as some analysts had feared and Morrisons said that, after keeping a lid on costs, it was still on course to report full-year profits in line with analysts’ expectations.

Shares rose 3%.

    

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