Despite the fact that food prices, including non-alcoholic beverages such as coffee and soft drinks, have risen by 21 percent in the past year, the price-adjusted sales trend in the grocery trade is estimated at minus 11.9 percent.
At the same time, sales themselves increased by 9.1 percent in February, compared to the same month in 2022, according to figures from the industry organization Swedish grocery trade’s daily goods index.
“You buy fewer and cheaper products, which means that the price-adjusted sales trend continues to be strongly negative during February,” says Karin Brynell, CEO of Swedish Grocery, in a press release.
Grocers are under pressure when prices at the supplier and production level have increased sharply, and at the same time increased rent, interest and energy costs hit hard, according to Brynell.
“The increased costs and reduced purchasing power of consumers means that many traders are in a difficult situation,” she continues.