Scorching weather resulted in a boost in supermarket sales last month, a recent report has revealed.
According to Barclaycard, spending grew 7.7% in July compared to the same period in 2021 – and 1.6% compared to June 2022, with the average value of a supermarket transaction dropping from £23.67 in January 2021 to £19.33 in July 2022, respectively.
This indicates a shopper preference for smaller basket sizes to save money.
The figures from the report also show that spending on essential items rose 7% year-on-year, greater than the 4% rise recorded in June, driven by fuel and supermarket shopping as prices continue to climb.
READ MORE: Food sales rise in July despite inflation pressures
This comes as 90% of Brits reported seeing increases in the prices of everyday items including butter and milk since June 2022.
A trend towards more frequent grocery trips with less spend per visit also emerged.
Supermarket retailers recorded rises of 5.5% month-on-month and 0.5% year-on-year. Meanwhile, discount stores grew 3.1% and 3.3% over the same period, as more Brits looked for ways to balance their budgets.
The data also showed 91% are concerned about rising inflation, surging household bills and higher food prices, while confidence in the future of the UK economy remains low at 26%.
“Inflation continues to have a noticeable impact, with price rises forcing shoppers to spend more on essential everyday items such as fuel, butter, and milk,” Barclaycard head of consumer products, José Carvalho said.
“We know that this is a really challenging time for many consumers, so it is reassuring to see that more Brits are feeling confident about their household finances and ability to live within their means each month.
“This shows that, faced with difficult circumstances, many are finding ways to budget and manage their finances successfully, to cope with ongoing inflationary pressures.”
Click here to sign up to Grocery Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
