Shoppers spending less on food

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Shoppers spending less on food

Fri 24th Oct 2008

Britons are spending less on food as the economy declines, a new report has found.

While it is known that many people are switching to cheaper own-brand products, the new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests people are actually buying less.

According to the ONS, sales in shops that sell mainly food, such as supermarkets and butchers, dropped by 0.1 per cent in the three months to September when compared to the same period in 2007.

It is the first time food sale volumes have fallen in Britain since 1986.

Mark Hudson, a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, told the Independent that consumers are suffering unemployment as well as trouble with house prices and energy bills.

Sales from DSGi, owner of Currys and PC World, are suffering, as well as those from Sports Direct.

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) said this week that workers are bringing home-made lunches into work in order to try to save money in the credit crunch.

Dr Frankie Phillips, dietician at the BDA, said that buying lunch would cost around £3 but a home-made one would be £1.

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