Business · Economy · 53 mins ago
UK grocery inflation rises as households buy supplies after Be Ready campaign
UK grocery prices were 2.6% higher than a year earlier in October, up from 2.5% in September.
The increase came as households faced higher energy bills after the energy price cap rose in October.
The Government’s Be Ready campaign encouraged households to keep supplies for up to three days in case essential services are disrupted.
In the 10 days after its launch, sales of hand sanitiser rose 83% year on year, bottled water 67% and tinned and jarred goods 37%.
The increase reflected more shoppers adding recommended items to their regular shops, rather than widespread panic buying.
With food prices rising and winter approaching, households are likely to keep an eye on costs, but no further campaign steps are specified.
UK grocery price inflation rose to 2.6% in October, from 2.5% the previous month.
Sales of essential supplies increased after the Government launched its Be Ready campaign, which urged households to prepare for up to three days of disruption to essential services.
In the 10 days after the campaign launch, sales of hand sanitiser rose 83% year on year, bottled water sales rose 67% and tinned and jarred goods sales rose 37%.
Worldpanel said more people added recommended items to their regular shops, rather than buying in unusually large quantities.
- Who
- UK grocery shoppers and supermarkets.
- What
- Grocery inflation edged up, while sales of essential supplies increased after the Be Ready campaign.
- When
- October 2026; the campaign-related sales increase began from October 22.
- Where
- UK.
- Why
- The Government campaign encouraged households to prepare for up to three days of disruption to essential services.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sales of essential supplies began to rise as shoppers responded to the Be Ready campaign.
Sales of hand sanitiser, bottled water and tinned and jarred goods were higher than in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Grocery price inflation reached 2.6%, up from 2.5% the previous month.
- Grocery inflation
- 2.6% in October, compared with 2.5% the previous month
- Hand sanitiser sales
- Up 83% in the 10 days after the campaign launch, year on year
- Bottled water sales
- Up 67% in the 10 days after the campaign launch, year on year
- Tinned and jarred goods sales
- Up 37% in the 10 days after the campaign launch, year on year
- Campaign preparation period
- Up to three days of disruption to essential services
What people are saying
Shoppers clearly took notice of the Be Ready campaign, but this wasn’t panic buying, with less than a third of households buying bottled water in October.
Growth came from more people adding the recommended items on the Government’s checklist to their weekly shop, not from shoppers piling their trolleys high, which is very much in line with what the Government wanted households to do.