What the average UK grocery bill looks like right now
Key Points
- Grocery price inflation slowed to 2.1% in the four weeks to 9 August 2026, the lowest rate since October 2024.
- The average household spent £410 on groceries over the period, down £14.24 on the previous four weeks.
- 39% of households now feel financially comfortable, the highest level since November 2021, while 20% say they are struggling.
- Promotions accounted for 31.3% of sales, the highest share this year.
- Online shopper visits rose 8.3%, but the average online basket fell to £86.28.
Shoppers spent £410 on groceries on average over the four weeks to 9 August, £14.24 less than the previous period, new data from Worldpanel by Numerator shows.
Grocery price inflation eased to 2.1% over the same four weeks, the lowest rate since October 2024 and the fifth consecutive month of slowing price rises.
Take-home sales growth at the grocers came in at 2.5%. Spending returned to more normal levels after a boost the previous month, according to Worldpanel by Numerator.
Financial confidence has climbed to its highest point in almost five years, with 39% of households now describing themselves as comfortable, the strongest reading since November 2021.
Despite this, a fifth of households say they are struggling. Among that group, 30% are more likely to put grocery essentials ahead of additional summer spending such as holidays and travel.
Deal-hunting reached its highest level of the year, with 31.3% of sales including a promotion last month. Premium own label moved back into double figures for the first time since March at 11.1% of spending.
Value own label featured in 96 million shopping trips over the four weeks, though that end of the market continues to shrink.
Online remained the fastest growing channel, with shopper visits up 8.3%. The average online basket now stands at £86.28, £1.13 less than it was a year ago.
Worldpanel drew its financial confidence figures from a survey of 9,549 households carried out between 17 and 29 July 2026.
