SHOPPERS are making more trips to supermarkets, but buying less to offset the soaring costs of food and other grocery items, says a report.

Market research firm Kantar Worldpanel said grocery sales rose by 4.5% in the three months to September 4 against a year ago, but prices rose by 5.3% and volumes fell for a third month in a row.

Morrisons and Sainsbury’s were the best performers among the major multiple chains.

Both grew sales faster than the market overall at 5.3% and 4.8% respectively.

Sainsbury’s now has 16.1% of the grocery market, up from 16% a year earlier, while Morrisons’ share is 11.5%, up from 11.4%.