The pressure on household budgets will increase over the course of the year, said the boss of the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s.
Households are struggling with the cost of living as energy, food and fuel bills skyrocket.
Sainsbury’s chief executive, Simon Roberts, said the chain was “doing everything we can to keep prices down”.
The government has pressured businesses, including retailers, to cut costs to customers.
Sainsbury’s said like-for-like sales fell 4% in the 16 weeks ended June 25 compared to the same period last year.
Last month, a survey commissioned by the BBC suggested that people are saving on food, fuel and clothing as prices rise.
- BBC poll says people are cutting back on food, fuel and clothing as prices go up
Mr Roberts said: “We really understand how difficult it is for millions of households at the moment and that is why we are investing £500m and doing everything we can to keep our prices low, particularly on the products customers buy most often.”
“Pressure on household budgets will only increase as the year progresses and I am very confident that doing what is right for our clients and colleagues will be high on our agenda,” he added.
Retailers and other businesses have been pressured by the government to lower prices.
But small firms said the plans were a “slap in the face” saying they had “already cut all spending, even necessary, to the bone marrow.”
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