NEW YORK – Heading into the first week of June, the latest from Nielsen Total US dollar sales data shows that grocery sales are still elevated but continued a downward trend compared to previous weeks of the pandemic.   

Although still elevated, instore consumer packaged goods sales (CPG) for food and beverage in the United States were up 9.9% the week ending on June 6, compared to 11.7% the week prior and 13.9% the week before that. During the same week, online food sales were up 51.3%.  

Within departments, the seafood category held onto its lead with the largest year-over-year growth compared to any other category. Meat moved up into second place and frozen took third. Average unit prices are still up compared to 2019 across the board.

The charts below break down Nielsen’s sales data by department and meat, seafood, dairy and alternatives for the week ending on June 6 and the 14 weeks leading up to it and show differences in sales prices compared to 2019: