Grocery price inflation hits 4.69% as shoppers chase deals

New figures show Irish grocery price inflation climbed in October

Store visits rose 2.9% in the four weeks to 4 October, while the number of items bought per trip fell 5.7% over the same period.

What's driving grocery price inflation higher

Deals are doing more of the heavy lifting this year.

Worldpanel by Numerator estimates that promotions accounted for roughly a fifth of all grocery spend in the three months to early October.

Compared with the same period last year, shoppers spent an extra €454 million chasing offers.

"Special offers remain a key tool for shoppers looking to keep their grocery bills in check," Eimear Faughnan, Worldpanel by Numerator's Ireland retail lead, said.

She added that the rise in promotional spending shows shoppers are prioritising value for money.

Which supermarkets are winning the price war

Compared to any other major supermarkret over the past year, Lidl grew faster, as it expanded its sales by 8.3%.

Dunnes Stores still commands the biggest slice of the Irish grocery market, at 24.8%, with Tesco close behind on 24%. SuperValu holds 18.8%, Lidl 14.6% and Aldi 10.8%.

Branded products held just over half the market, 50.9%, and sales climbed 12.4% compared with the same time last year.

Own-label lines grew more modestly, up 3%, while premium own-label items jumped 11.9%.

Faughnan also flagged early Christmas buying, with branded chocolate, biscuits and sweets all climbing as households stock up ahead of Halloween and the festive season.