Britons spending an extra £361m a week in supermarkets

Empty shelves in UK supermarkets have become a common sight over the past couple of weeks, leading the government to warn shoppers to only buy what they need. But how much extra have UK households spent?

A new study by Blacktower Financial Management Group has revealed that so far during the pandemic UK households are spending an extra £13 a week. This figure is based on the average weekly food bill of £60.60. This figure seems relatively small until one considers that there are 27.8m households in the UK, resulting in £361.4m being spent.

As new government rules have been implemented in the UK over the past few days, consumers are being strongly advised to stay at home and only leave for essential purposes, resulting in a shift in consumer behaviour to online shopping. The study reveals that so far Brits have increased online spending by 25.5% during the coronavirus outbreak.

John Westwood, founder and group managing director of Blacktower, said: “Supermarkets and a range of ecommerce retailers have been overwhelmed by increased purchasing because of panic buying amid the coronavirus outbreak. During this unsettling time retailers need to ensure food and supplies are well stocked in order to meet with consumer demand.”