61% of Consumers Shift Grocery Spending as Inflation Bites — RELEX Solutions

Event summary

61% of U.S. and U.K. consumers have altered grocery spending due to rising costs, per RELEX's June 2026 survey.
46% cut back on snacks/junk food, 39% reduced beef purchases, and 34% decreased alcohol spending.
68% still prioritize fresh groceries, while 49% value household essentials despite tradeoffs.
71% expect price pressures to persist due to tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain disruptions.
51% stock up during promotions, 47% switched to private-label products, and 40% shop more at discount retailers.

The big picture

RELEX's survey highlights a fragmented grocery landscape where consumers prioritize freshness and essentials while cutting discretionary spending. This creates a complex demand environment for retailers, who must balance category-level planning with broader economic pressures. The data aligns with RELEX's 2026 State of Supply Chain report, showing 86% of organizations impacted by tariffs and 40% citing demand fluctuations as major disruptions. The challenge lies in responding to individualized consumer decisions without assuming uniform behavior.

What we're watching

Category-Level Planning: How retailers will adapt to non-uniform demand shifts across grocery categories.
Price Sensitivity: Whether consumers will sustain tradeoffs as economic uncertainty persists.
Supply Chain Resilience: The pace at which retailers integrate dynamic demand forecasting into operations.