The amount spent on fresh/frozen pork over this period was down over 7 per cent on the year, following similar trends seen over recent months. Likewise, the volume sold in the 12 weeks ending 1 January fell by 5 per cent year on year despite the average price being 2 per cent lower at £4.54/kg.

Leg roasting joints and minced pork recorded an increase in volume sold over this period but all other cuts saw a fall. Pork volumes were once again affected by consumers switching to other meats such as beef and poultry, with both recording increases in volumes sold. However, it wasn’t just pork that saw a fall in average prices, with poultry also recording a decline, whilst lamb prices climbed once again.

Although volumes sales for bacon recorded an increase of 4 per cent year on year, due to lower average prices, the total spend on this category was down by 1 per cent. Nonetheless, the total spend on sausages increased by 2 per cent, driven by a rise in volumes sold and average prices.

Despite the decrease in spend on bacon over the 12 week period, in the four weeks ending 1 January volumes of bacon sold were up 7 per cent year on year, outweighing a fall in average price to record an increase of 3 per cent in total spend.