Food sales fall for first time in at least 22 years

24 October 2008

Food sales fell for the first time since at least 1986, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), as shoppers continued to tighten their belts in what may already be a recession.

The Office for National Statistics’ figures showed that food sales had fallen by 0.1% in the three months to September, compared with the same period last year.

According to The Telegraph, record food price inflation has raised many households’ food bills by as much as £750 compared with 2007, prompting increasing numbers of shoppers to hunt for bargains. But for the first time since the ONS began its monthly survey in 1986, the figures indicate that shoppers are actually buying less food.

A spokesperson for debt management company Gregory Pennington said: “For some time there has been evidence that shoppers are cutting back to avoid financial problems or getting into debt, but these figures provide particularly strong evidence that they are really beginning to feel the pressure.

“As always, we advise anyone struggling with debt to seek professional debt advice as soon as possible.”

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Gregory Pennington offer debt management plans as well as a range of other debt solutions. If you are worried about debt, contact one of our expert debt advisers now.

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Gregory Pennington are founder members of DEMSA (Debt Managers Standards Association).

DEMSA are the first trade body within the finance industry to successfully secure approval for its code of practice under the OFT Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS).