Rained off: Weather slows supermarket sales growth

THE miserable spring and early summer weather that has wreaked havoc on the high street has even hit the supermarkets with their sales growing at their slowest rate in two years, according to new figures today.

- Jonathan Prynn

Analysts Kantar said take-home grocery sales rose by just 1% in the four weeks to June 9, the slowest rate of increase since June 2022. Although that was partly down to lower inflation, the rain also played a role in depressing growth in a supposedly weather-proof sector, according to Kantar.

Its head of retail and consumer insight, Fraser McKevitt, said: "The sixth wettest spring on record hasn't just dampened our spirits leading into summer, it's made a mark on the grocery sector too as it seems Britons are being put off from popping to the shops.

"We're not yet reaching for those typical summertime products and are making some purchases you wouldn't expect in June. Consumers bought nearly 25% fewer suncare items this month compared with last year, while prepared salads dipped by 11%. On the other hand, warming fresh soup sales jumped by almost 24%."