Pet food inflation splits five ways across Europe

Pet food prices are moving in opposite directions in Europe's five largest FMCG markets. In the 13 weeks to May 2026, pet food prices were up 1.4% year on year in both Germany and Spain, up 0.3% in Italy, and down 0.2% in Great Britain and 1.0% in France. The figures come from the first edition of the NIQ EU5 Inflation Barometer, a monthly report published by NielsenIQ on 27 July 2026 covering France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain.

The spread across the category is wider than the headline picture. Total FMCG inflation in the EU5 slowed to 1.1% in May, the lowest level of 2026 and the fourth consecutive monthly decline after a peak of 2.5% in January. By market, Great Britain remains the outlier at 2.3%, ahead of Germany at 1.3%, Spain at 1.2% and Italy at 0.6%, while France has moved back into deflation at ‑0.4%.

Pet food sits on either side of those national averages, and its…