Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Shopper confidence falls to lowest level in a year

Shopper confidence falls to lowest level in a year

Shopper confidence has declined to its lowest level in a year, according to the latest Shopper Confidence Index from IGD.

The September 2021 Shopper Confidence Index highlights that concerns around food price inflation are at their highest since March 2013 as 85 per cent of shoppers expect food prices to get more expensive next year (vs 79% in Aug 2021).


Following a small but consistent decline for the last four months, shopper confidence fell to -9 (vs -4 in August) which is its largest recorded monthly decline. IGD said confidence declined steadily throughout September and fell to -14 at the end of the month.

Overall financial confidence has also fallen sharply in the last month with 31 per cent of shoppers expecting to be worse off in the year ahead (a 9% increase vs Aug 21). Confidence has declined across all shopper demographics, but more so among lower income households.

Financial confidence across lower income households continues to decrease with 42 per cent expecting to be worse off in the year ahead compared to 26 per cent in August. Confidence amongst higher income households also decreased with 30 per cent expecting to be worse off in the year vs 22 per cent in the previous month.

One fifth (21%) of shoppers expect to focus more on saving money rather than quality next year (a 6% increase on August 2021).

Shopper confidence is declining across all regions, particularly in the Midlands where the score is 13 points lower than last month. Shoppers aged 35+ are becoming less confident than those aged 18-34. In the last month confidence has declined from 0 to -12 among 35-44 year olds.

“This month’s Shopper Confidence Index is a sobering read and we anticipate it will be a similar story next month, following the steady decline we’ve seen throughout September,” Simon Wainwright, director of global insight at IGD, said.

“Moving forward shopper focus will be on value for money and we will see much wider adoption of the 2021 ‘savvy shopping’ trend as shoppers look to save money, with many switching to private label products, motivated by seeking out savings. The discount channel is forecast to be the fastest-growing grocery channel over the next five years and we will see many shoppers shift their shopping behaviour to make cost-savings from this channel.

“Shopper confidence will remain very fragile for the foreseeable future so retailers and suppliers will need to focus on building loyalty by supporting their customers’ needs by offering value for money.”

More for you

Home energy smartmeter
Photo: iStock

Inflation jumps in October on higher energy bills

Britain's annual inflation rate jumped more than expected in October to back above the Bank of England's target as households and businesses faced higher energy bills, official data showed Wednesday.

The Consumer Prices Index reached 2.3 per cent from a three-year low of 1.7 percent in the 12 months to September, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nestle

Nestle logos are pictured in the supermarket of Nestle headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, February 13, 2020

REUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo

Nestle to step up marketing investment; Waters and beverages to become standalone business

Nestle on Tuesday said it will increase investment in advertising and marketing to 9 per cent of sales by the end of 2025. The company also announced plans to make its waters and premium beverages activities a global standalone business from New Year.

Unveiling a plan to fuel and accelerate growth at a Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts, the Swiss group also said it aims cost savings of at least CHF 2.5 billion (£2.25bn) above existing initiatives by end 2027 to fund increased investments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deposit Return Scheme

Retailers express concern over Welsh government’s decision to press on with its own DRS

A single UK-wide scheme deposit return scheme (DRS) would be far more successful, efficient and effective, retailer body the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has stated, expressing surprise and some concerns over Welsh government’s decision to press ahead with its own deposit return scheme for bottles and cans and not to join a UK-wide DRS.

The Fed’s National President Mo Razzaq has further warned that this decision by Wales - coupled with its intention to include glass in its scheme - would cause unnecessary confusion. He commented: “While we applaud Wales’s desire to make its deposit return scheme a success, we would prefer to see one single scheme for the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Retail Insolvency

Retail insolvencies flat though 'wave of distress' expected

Retail insolvencies remained flat in the lead up to the Budget, shows a recent report, though experts feel that a wave of distress is expected following the Chancellor’s increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and National Minimum Wage.

Today’s company insolvency statistics show retail trade insolvencies fell slightly from 2,101 in the 12 months to September 2023, to 2,089 in the 12 months to September 2024, and were flat month-on-month (137 in August 2024 to 138 in September 2024).

Keep ReadingShow less
Raj Patel

Raj Patel

National Lottery retailers help raise landmark £50bn for good causes

Today, on The National Lottery’s 30th birthday, operator Allwyn is announcing that, through selling tickets, National Lottery retailers have helped players raise a landmark £50 billion for Good Causes since 1994 – funding an incredible 700,000 individual projects across the UK.

Allwyn is also announcing that National Lottery retailers have now earned over £8 billion in sales commission since the first draw on Saturday 19 November 1994.

Keep ReadingShow less