Treats are back in fashion as cost of living falls, says Waitrose boss

Optimistic: Waitrose boss James Bailey (pictured) said ‘people are starting to feel a little more confident about their finances’

Waitrose’s chief executive said customers are buying more ‘treats’ as the cost of living falls.

James Bailey, the company’s chief executive, said: ‘People are starting to feel a little more confident about their finances.’

“Customers are starting to go back into some of the premium categories – they’re buying more brands, more treats,” he added. But Bailey said shoppers are “still looking for a bargain,” with spending on promotions increasing.

His comments came after supermarket prices fell for the first time in almost three years – down 0.3 percent from 12 months earlier.

The decline was driven by non-food products – clothing, furniture and electronics – which fell by 1.5 percent year-on-year.

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