US retail seafood sales continued to drop in September

U.S. fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable seafood sales at retail stores all declined in September despite price deflation among seafood categories.

Fresh seafood prices dropped 1 percent in September, but sales slid 6.6 percent to USD 408 million (EUR 385 million) in the period. Shelf-stable prices fell even more, declining 2.9 percent in September, but the category also saw a decrease in sales, dipping 4.4 percent to USD 206 million (EUR 195 million).

Frozen seafood prices, meanwhile, increased 1.6 percent and realized the steepest decline in sales, dropping 8.7 percent to USD 466 million (EUR 440 million), according to Circana data analyzed by Lakeland, Florida, U.S.A.-based 210 Analytics.

Specifically, in fresh seafood, shrimp sales dropped 16.5 percent, tilapia sales fell 10.8 percent, lobster sales dropped 10.5 percent, crab sales slid by 6.1 percent, and salmon sales dropped 4.2 percent.

Frozen crab sales – which have been soaring since the start of the year – declined a significant 15.8 percent in dollar value and 61.4 percent in volume. Frozen shrimp prices, conversely to the frozen seafood category as a whole, dropped 8.1 percent in September, but sales still plummeted 9.4 percent.

210 Analytics Principal Anne-Marie Roerink said she was surprised by the seafood sales declines in August and September, surmising that higher gasoline prices are to blame for a drop in overall grocery spending.

“The renewed increase in gasoline prices on already elevated levels puts another dent in people’s ability to ... 

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