Average household spending £119 per week on food shop

The average UK household is now spending nearly £119 per week on food shopping, according to new research by Confused.com, amounting to more than £6,000 per year.

The research shows that the average food bill is £1,144 per year, or £22 per week, more expensive than in  2024, a 23% increase. This is significantly higher than the cumulative inflation rate over the same period, which rose by 6-8% since the start of 2024(1).

For many households, paying for the ‘big’ food shop each week is a costly chore, amounting to  £98, on average. For nearly two in five (38%), this weekly bill totals an average of £101 or more. However, 93% of adults claim they also have to do a weekly ‘top up’ between shops, adding another £21 to their weekly costs.

While the average household currently spends £119 per week, weekly food bills cost much more for larger families. Families with 1 child pay an average of £138 in total, while families with two children pay £161. The cost rises to around £170 for those with 3 more children.

The amount these families have seen their weekly food bills increase varies, too. For example, a one-child household is now paying an average of £26 per week more compared to two years ago, on average. This increases to a £28 hike for a two-child household and around £30 extra for families with three children or more.

This significant shift in costs has meant many people have had to make sacrifices to their shopping list. More than three in five (61%) claim they’ve had to cut back on buying certain items, such as snacks or treats (30%), fresh meat or meat alternatives (21%), or alcohol (19%).

Nearly three in four (72%) have had to make sacrifices when it comes to other financial commitments in the past two years. More than two in five (42%) UK adults claim the increase in the cost of food has affected their ability to save. A further two in five  (41%) said it has impacted their personal spending too.

Meanwhile, more than one in four (28%) have had to cut back on days out, and 22% have limited the amount they spend on holidays. More than a seventh (16%) say clearing their debt is negatively affecting their well-being. But what is setting people back the most when it comes to their food bills? According to the research, meat is the most costly item on people’s shopping lists, at £16 on average per week. This is followed by alcohol (£14) and frozen items (£12).

Meanwhile, fish, fresh vegetables, dry foods, dairy items or alternatives and household essentials all set people back £11 per week, on average.

At the other end of the scale, bread is the cheapest item, at just £8 spent per week, on average. This is followed by other bakery items, with a weekly cost of £9.

With weekly food shops coming in at a very high price for households, many are taking measures to cut costs where they can. More than half (55%) will use loyalty rewards or vouchers to save money, while nearly half (46%) will purchase own-brand items, which often come at a lower price compared to branded labels. Two-fifths (41%) will also look at the price per unit on items to find the best value for their money. Bargain hunting is also very popular, with over a third (38%) buying yellow sticker items where they can, and a third (33%) will shop at budget supermarkets instead to save the pennies.