Areas in Merseyside are among the top 20 in England to be most at risk during the cost of food crisis, according to Which?
A study by the consumer group identified that people in Knowsley and West Derby are more likely to struggle to get affordable food, during the food inflation crisis. Further data from market analysis Kantar showed grocery price inflation hit 14.7% over the four weeks to October 30 - a record high since the firm began tracking prices in this way in 2008.
The Mirror reports that this means the average annual supermarket bill is forecast to rise by £682. Kantar data also revealed sales of supermarket own-label products jumped by 10.3%.
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Supermarkets prices have been largely rising off the back of soaring energy prices and labour costs. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: "Just over a quarter of all households now say they're struggling financially, which is double the proportion we recorded last November.
"Nine in ten of this group say higher food and drink prices are a major concern, second only to energy bills, so it's clear just how much grocery inflation is hitting people's wallets and adding to their domestic worries."
Which? revealed a list of the 50 areas of the UK most at risk of the cost of food crisis. Factors such as low income, poor access to affordable food, having no large supermarkets nearby and a lack of online shopping deliveries contributed to making it difficult for people to find healthy and affordable food, Which? warned.
In England, the North East was found to be the worst impacted region, with almost half (45%) of local areas in dire need of extra support. Birmingham Hodge Hill is first on the list, with Knowsley in Merseyside ranking second for needing support because of low incomes, fuel poverty and an “exceptionally high need” for family food support.
20 areas worst hit by cost of food crisis in England
1. Birmingham, Hodge Hill, West Midlands
2. Knowsley, North West
3. Houghton and Sunderland South, North East
4. Birmingham, Northfield, West Midlands
5. Birmingham, Perry Barr, West Midlands
6. Blackley and Broughton, North West
7. Bradford South, Yorkshire and The Humber
8. North West Durham, North East
9. Blaydon. North East
10. Bishop Auckland, North East
11. Birmingham, Yardley, West Midlands
12. Bolsover, East Midlands
13. Birmingham, Hall Green, West Midlands
14. Don Valley, Yorkshire and The Humber
15. Bradford West, Yorkshire and The Humber
16. Liverpool, West Derby, North West
17. Wolverhampton North East, West Midlands
18. Bradford East, Yorkshire and The Humber
19. Easington, North East
20. South West Norfolk
According to the study by Kantar more people are switching to budget supermarkets, with Aldi becoming the fastest growing retailer in the latest period, increasing its sales by 22.7% year on year to gain 9.2% market share. Lidl boosted sales by 21.5% to take its market share to a new record of 7.2%.
Asda again led the traditional Big Four supermarkets with sales growing by 5.3% to maintain an overall market share of 14.3%. Mr McKevitt said: "With economic forecasters warning of a potential recession, it's worth reflecting on how much the grocery landscape has changed since the 2008 financial crash.
"We've seen a rise in the market share of the discounters Aldi and Lidl, which together now stands at 16.4%, versus 4.4% 14 years ago."
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