Shoppers turn to own-brand goods as grocery cost jumps 5%

SHOPPERS are paying substantially more for their groceries while the sale of own-brand goods has hit a record high.

The price of groceries jumped more than 5% in the 12 weeks to February 20 compared with a 3.9% rise in the previous period.

Research from the consultancy firm Kantar Worldpanel found that Irish shoppers are cutting back on the amount of groceries they buy. It also found that they are increasingly choosing own-label over branded goods, which now account for 34% of money spent on groceries — the highest level ever seen.