Rising grocery prices put pressure on shoppers and farmers
With grocery prices continuing to climb, shoppers are thinking twice about what goes into their baskets, according to a new report today (Monday, October 19)
But what could that mean for farmers supplying the food on shelves?
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) last week showed that farmers are getting less for what they produce, despite the fact grocery prices continue to rise.
The CSO figures highlight that agricultural output prices fell by 13% year-on-year in August 2026, with milk down 17.6%, cattle down 14.9% and pigs down 14.4%.
In contrast today's report from Worldpanel by Numerator shows that grocery price inflation in Ireland has risen to 4.69%.
According to Eimear Faughnan, head of retail for Ireland at Worldpanel by Numerator, while take home grocery sales increased by 4.3% over the four weeks to October 4, the "cost of living" is at the front of shoppers's minds now.
"Milder weather may have delayed the decision by many to turn on the heating, but the mood among shoppers is cautious, who are thinking carefully about what they put in their basket.
"They’re shopping little and often and keeping a close eye on spend," Faughnan added.
Grocery shopping
The Worldpanel by Numerator report also shows that shoppers are looking for deals when filling their trolleys and baskets.
The report highlights that promotions accounted for almost 21% of grocery spend over the latest 12 weeks, with shoppers spending an additional €454 million on deals compared with last year.
Irish shoppers have been stocking up on over-the-counter remedies in the run-up up to flu season, with spending on promoted products in this category up 17%.
Warm weather in September also encouraged spending on ice cream which was up by €11.8 million - but home baking declined by 15% over the latest 12 weeks.
Lidl
The report shines a light on where shoppers have been buying their groceries over the latest 12 weeks.
According to Worldpanel by Numerator, Lidl had 14.6% market share - up from 8.3% last year - and has seen the highest growth among all retailers over the latest 12 weeks.
This compares to Dunnes which holds 24.8% market share while Tesco holds 24% of the market, SuperValu holds 18.8% share and Aldi holds 10.8% market share.
