The cost of living crisis does not seem to have stopped shoppers from indulging in a bit of retail therapy when they feel like it. Here is a month-by-month rundown of the trends that set Britain’s tills ringing in 2022.
January
So-called “Veganuary” was back and saw Wagamama launch its first vegan fish and chips, contributing to a 12 per cent jump in sales of vegan options on the month before.
Cooks were able to buy “tearless” onions for the first time at Waitrose, and Marks & Spencer changed the name of its popular Midget Gems sweets to avoid offending people with dwarfism.
February
The rising cost of living was now affecting more than three in four adults in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Perhaps in the search for cheap protein, GratedEgg racked up more than 32 million views on TikTok as recipes including mashed avocado on toast topped with a fluffy cloud of egg become the latest kitchen fad.
Sales of microwave egg poachers at Lakeland were up 143 per cent on the month before.
High street bakery chain Greggs announced a fashion collection in a collaboration with Primark. A limited-edition range of 11 clothing items, including hoodies and socks, all emblazoned with the Greggs logo went on sale in 60 Primark stores.
March
A host of UK bars and retailers stopped selling Russian vodka due to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Stanley Tucci’s series Searching For Italy aired in the UK. The A-list actor, who became a viral hit in lockdown posting weekly Quarantini cocktails, travelled the country uncovering the secrets of Italy’s regional dishes.
April
The Queen Elizabeth II Barbie, to be released on the Queen’s 96th birthday, was created to commemorate her historic Platinum Jubilee. The doll was “instantly recognisable”, fitted with an elegant ivory gown and blue ribbon adorned with insignia, and also featured a tiara modelled on Queen Mary’s fringe tiara, which the Queen wore on her own wedding day.
Waitrose reported a year-on-year rise in Easter-themed crackers and wreaths as people embraced the holiday period to entertain friends and family after years of lockdown.
May
When influencers begin sharing videos of sparkling water with balsamic vinegar and swearing it tasted just like the “real-deal Coca-Cola but healthier”, many were sceptical. But that only added to the hype - at the last count, the trend had racked up more than 87.2 million views on TikTok.
June
Sales of bunting, trifle dishes and favourite royal tipple Dubonnet set tills ringing as consumers prepared for a long weekend of Jubilee parties.
John Lewis reported bunting sales were up by 85 per cent as streets turn red, white and blue, while outdoor speaker sales were up by two-thirds.
Meanwhile, searches for “Royal Collectibles” were up by 700 per cent on eBay, “Queen salt and pepper shakers” increased by 200 per cent, and searches for “Knitted corgi” jumped by 231 per cent.
July
As the UK sweltered in historic temperatures on July 18 and 19, with some areas topping 40C for the first time, consumers stripped shelves of paddling pools and fans, and fire chiefs urge retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues after they were linked to a string of blazes.
Searches for “Air con unit” surged by 415 per cent on eBay - which recorded three searches a minute – while searches for “fan” soared by 333 per cent on the month before.
On July 31, England’s Lionesses won their first European Championship title. Football boot searches were up by 60 per cent at John Lewis, while searches for sports bras doubled at the department store following Chloe Kelly’s celebration. At eBay, searches for “Lioness kit” leaped by 220 per cent.
August
When butter prices soared in the summer, people took to social media to post DIY alternatives.
September
No sooner was the heatwave over than Ugg boots saw a resurgence, possibly as reports began to predict ever higher energy bills would be announced on October 1.
October
Households began to face the reality of soaring energy bills as winter approached, and Toolstation saw a 28 per cent week-on-week increase in sales of chainsaws as many looked for cheaper alternatives to heat their homes.
Halloween’s ever-increasing popularity, both as a night out and an interior design event, saw searches for “Halloween Wreath” up 58 per cent on the year before at Hobbycraft.
November
November was the month when air fryers hit the national consciousness, seemingly touted as the single most effective gadget to survive the winter.
They notched up 4.9 billion views on TikTok, while Lakeland sold more than double the number of air fryers in 10 weeks than it did for the whole of last year. Iceland sold out completely.
December
Consumers were warned of a shortage of British free-range turkeys for Christmas with half already dead due to bird flu.
Poultry farmer Paul Kelly, of Kelly Turkeys, told MPs that the price of turkeys was not expected to increase but warned of a “big, big shortage of British free-range turkeys on the shelves this year".
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