Table of Contents
Shoppers in Britain are buying less soap and personal hygiene products, according to data from major supermarkets.
In the first six months of 2023, the demand for soap decreased 48% compared to the same period last year. Hand soap sales were down by 23%, bubble bath sales decreased by 35%, and shower gel sales went down by 1%. The only product that had an increase in sales was hand sanitizer, which increased 29%.
The reason for this decrease in sales is the rising prices of these products. Supermarket data shows that the cost of items like soap has gone up.
Unilever, the company that produces brands like Marmite and Dove soap, warned that its prices would continue to rise in 2023. However, the company says it’s not earning large profits during this economic crisis.
The cost of toothpaste has increased by an average of 29 pence since July of last year. Soap is up by 18 pence, with an average cost of £2.24 (\$2.88), and hair shampoo is up by 25 pence, with an average cost of £3.87 (\$4.98).
The rising prices are impacting many people. A report from last year said that 3.2 million UK adults experience “hygiene poverty,” which means it’s difficult to afford basic items like soap and deodorant. This situation makes a big impact on a person’s everyday life as some people avoid social interactions.
The Hygiene Bank charity tries to help people by supplying items like deodorant, laundry detergent, period products, and toothpaste.
Vocabulary
- Shopper – A person who buys things from stores
- Soap – A cleaning product that is used to wash your hands and bod
- Hygiene product – Something that helps keep us clean and healthy, like soap or shampoo
- Hygiene – actions and process to stay clean and healthy;
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Data – Information or facts that are collected and stored
- Demand – a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use; a need or want; a need for something to be sold or supplied
- Compare – To look at two or more things and see how they are similar or different
- Period – a length of time; or portion of time
- Hand sanitizer – A liquid that is used to clean your hands without water
- Rise – to increase; to go up
- Product – something that is made to be sold or used by people; things you buy in a shop
- Show – to prove something or make the truth or existence of something known; confirm; demonstrate; to display; to represent
- Produce – to create or make something
- Warn – to tell someone about something bad or dangerous that might happen; alert; notify
- Earn – to get something (usually money) because you worked, sold something, or helped someone; to receive
- Profit – extra money, financial gain
- Economic crisis – A very hard time when many people have difficulties with money
- Toothpaste – A paste or gel we use to clean our teeth
- Average – The number found by dividing the sum of a set of numbers by how many numbers there are
- Pence – A British unit of money that is equal to one hundredth of a pound; one penny; one cent
- Impact – influence; effect; consequence; to make change
- Report – a written description of an event; story; article; the results of a study or project
- Experience – something that happens to you or something you do that affects how you feel; an emotional situation
- Afford – have enough money to pay for something; able to pay without too much cost or effort
- Deodorant – Something we use to stop bad smells under our arms
- Situation – condition; circumstance; state of affairs; the way it is; event; occurrence
- Everyday – Happening or done on a regular basis; Something that happens or is used regularly
- Avoid – stay away from; keep away; try not to do
- Social interaction – When people talk and do things together; to spend time with other people
- Supply – To give or provide something that is needed or wanted
- Period – the process of blood coming from the uterus (= the organ in which a baby develops before birth), which usually happens once a month when a woman is not pregnant
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What are the long-term effects of hygiene poverty?
- What are some ways to solve the problem of hygiene poverty and make sure everyone can get the hygiene products they need?
- Why do you think hand sanitizer sales went up while sales of other hygiene products went down?
- How do higher prices affect the choices people make when buying soap and personal hygiene products?
Original Story
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Shoppers in Britain are buying less ______ and personal hygiene products, according to data from major supermarkets.
In the first six months of 2023, the demand for ____ decreased 48% compared to the same period last year. Hand ______ sales were down by 23%, ______ bath sales decreased by 35%, and shower gel sales went down by 1%. The only product that had an increase in sales was hand _______, which increased 29%.
The reason for this decrease in sales is the rising prices of these products. Supermarket data shows that the cost of items like ______ has gone up.
Unilever, the company that produces brands like Marmite and Dove _______, warned that its prices would continue to rise in 2023. However, the company says it’s not earning large profits during this economic ______.
The cost of toothpaste has increased by an average of 29 pence since July of last year. ______ is up by 18 pence, with an average cost of £2.24, and hair shampoo is up by 25 pence, with an average cost of £3.87.
The rising prices are impacting many people. A report from last year said that 3.2 million UK adults ______ “hygiene poverty,” which means it’s difficult to afford basic items like ______ and deodorant. This situation makes a big impact on a person’s everyday life as some people avoid social interactions.
The Hygiene Bank charity tries to help people by supplying items like deodorant, laundry detergent, period products, and ________.
