A typical household is spending about €2,000 more a year on groceries than they were in 2021
New research shows shoppers are also fighting high prices by avoiding online shopping.
More than half of Irish consumers said price was a significant factor when it came to deciding what to put in their shopping trolleys, according to the latest Future Consumer Index from consultants EY.
Close to half of the respondents to the survey said they were using discount shops to make budgets go further.
Official figures out this week show food prices are continuing to rise.
They are estimated to have increased by 0.6pc in the last month, and by 3.1pc in the last 12 months, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Grocery prices have been rising for more than two years, and experts estimate they have increased by around 25pc over the last several years.
A typical household now spends an estimated €2,000 more a year on groceries than it did in 2021.
EY found that consumers are responding to rising prices by opting for own-brand products sold by supermarket chains, which tend to be far cheaper.
Nearly eight in 10 respondents said own-brand products are just as good as the more expensive big-name ones.
Nearly 80pc of survey respondents said they bought own-brand goods to save money. Photo: Getty
The EY Future Consumer Index involved a survey of more than 20,000 consumers across 26 countries, including more than 500 people in Ireland.
Seven in 10 respondents here said they preferred physical stores when buying everyday items, underscoring the importance of bricks-and-mortar shops.
Nearly three-quarters said they want healthier and more sustainable products to be more affordable.
EY said that with global economic uncertainty set to persist and price levels not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, these behavioural shifts are unlikely to be temporary.
Instead, they signal a lasting reset in consumer priorities, and Irish businesses must act to respond to these changes, the consultancy group said.
More than half of consumers believe they will be better off in 12 months’ time, while 19pc think they will be worse off
The research found financial concerns continue to dominate the Irish consumer mindset.
Ninety-six per cent of respondents are worried about the cost of living, but despite the anxiety, there is some optimism.
More than half of consumers believe they will be better off in 12 months’ time, while 19pc think they will be worse off.
EY Ireland consumer sector lead Colette Devey said consumer behaviour has traditionally shifted during periods of economic uncertainty and acute price inflation
“But today’s changes appear to be more fundamental,” she added.
“Unlike past cycles, where consumers returned to familiar brands post-crisis, prolonged inflation, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical instability would seem to be reshaping habits permanently.”
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