Retail pork sales for the 12 weeks to February 1 showed the largest drop in consumer spending across all meats, according to BPEX.
Quoting the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel, the consumer research company, BPEX said that the pork sector fall reflected both a decline in sales volume and a 7% drop in the average price.
“Leg roasting joints were the only roasting cut not to record a fall in volume sales over the period, with the amount purchased marginally up on last year,” said BPEX.
“However, consumer spending on leg joints fell on the back of a 10% drop in average retail prices. This was driven by an increase in the amount sold on promotion, which was up to 62% of total sales”
Spending on cured and processed pigmeat products also fell, although overall volumes were little changed compared with a year earlier.
A slight fall in sausage sales, meanwhile, was considered to be “within the economy and standard ranges”, while the premium-tiered range recorded a 7% increase in volume sales.