NIQ Unveils EU5 FMCG Inflation Barometer Amid Regional Cooling

NielsenIQ (NIQ) has launched its new EU5 FMCG Inflation Barometer to track inflation across five Western Europe markets, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

The barometer aims to help retailers, manufacturers, and media outlets understand how inflation is evolving in Europe's largest grocery markets and how shoppers are responding.

The first edition of the barometer revealed that while inflation across Europe's FMCG sector remains relatively contained overall, significant differences persist between countries. The UK recorded the highest FMCG inflation at +2.3% above the European average of +1.1%, while France and Italy reported the lowest inflation at -0.4% and +0.6%, respectively.

The barometer tracks department-level inflation, price elasticity, and how shoppers are reacting to inflation to manage higher grocery costs. In the UK for the period ending 24 May 2026, non-alcoholic beverages recorded the highest inflation (+4.4%), followed by confectionery and snacks (+2.8%) and frozen food (+2.7%).

Speaking about the barometer, client director at NIQ Benjamin Cawthray said, 'The first edition of the NIQ EU5 Inflation Barometer reveals a slowdown in FMCG inflation across Western Europe's largest markets.' He noted that while inflation is cooling at a regional level, the picture varies significantly by country.