The 'shrinkflation' phenomenon: crisp quantities are reducing despite rising prices
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The Office for National Statistics have released new research on ‘Shrinkflation’. The size of many products is shrinking but their prices are staying the same.
The ONS collected 2,529 price quotes from July 2015 to June 2017. They discovered that 206 products shrunk in size over this period.
Goods include chocolate bars such as Toblerone, loaves of Warburton bread, packets of Walkers crisps and household items such as Andrex toilet roll.
Mike Hardy, head of inflation at the ONS, explained:
“Over the last few years, consumers may have noticed that some companies have reduced the size of their products while prices remained the same, which is often attributed to operational and material cost rises.
“Our updated analysis of this subject indicates which type of products have decreased in size. The majority of size changes occurred in the food and drink sector. Every day staples such as bread and cereal are most likely to have seen reductions in size, while consumers may also find some chocolate products to be smaller now than they once were.”
Mars chocolate brands, including Malteasers, M&Ms and Minstrels, are estimated to have shrunk by 15%. Birds Eye fish fingers have reduced from twelve to ten in a packet.
In 2015, consumers flocked to social media to express their frustration at the widening gap between the distinctive Toblerone chunks.
City News reached out to Mondelez International, who manufacture Toblerone and Cadbury’s. They refused to comment but acknowledged that ‘shrinkflation’ is an industry-wide issue.
The ONS estimate that sizes of products have shrunk one 1-2.1% with food items being the most affected. However, they maintain that shrinking sizes having no connection to the Brexit referendum.
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HeadlineShrinkflation: Are Packets of Crisps Shrinking?
Short HeadlineShrinkflation: Are Packets of Crisps Shrinking?
StandfirstNew research from the Office for National Statistics reveals that product-size is shrinking but prices are staying the same
The Office for National Statistics have released new research on ‘Shrinkflation’. The size of many products is shrinking but their prices are staying the same.
The ONS collected 2,529 price quotes from July 2015 to June 2017. They discovered that 206 products shrunk in size over this period.
Goods include chocolate bars such as Toblerone, loaves of Warburton bread, packets of Walkers crisps and household items such as Andrex toilet roll.
Mike Hardy, head of inflation at the ONS, explained:
“Over the last few years, consumers may have noticed that some companies have reduced the size of their products while prices remained the same, which is often attributed to operational and material cost rises.
“Our updated analysis of this subject indicates which type of products have decreased in size. The majority of size changes occurred in the food and drink sector. Every day staples such as bread and cereal are most likely to have seen reductions in size, while consumers may also find some chocolate products to be smaller now than they once were.”
Mars chocolate brands, including Malteasers, M&Ms and Minstrels, are estimated to have shrunk by 15%. Birds Eye fish fingers have reduced from twelve to ten in a packet.
In 2015, consumers flocked to social media to express their frustration at the widening gap between the distinctive Toblerone chunks.
City News reached out to Mondelez International, who manufacture Toblerone and Cadbury’s. They refused to comment but acknowledged that ‘shrinkflation’ is an industry-wide issue.
The ONS estimate that sizes of products have shrunk one 1-2.1% with food items being the most affected. However, they maintain that shrinking sizes having no connection to the Brexit referendum.
