Consumer groups face sales hit as cash-strapped shoppers trade down

Some of the world’s largest consumer goods producers face a hit to sales in the coming months as shoppers switch to cheaper supermarket own-brands in an effort to mitigate the cost of living squeeze caused by soaring inflation.

Multinational makers of food and household products, including Unilever and Danone, are preparing to publish first-half results in the coming days. Analysts predict they will log falling sales volumes in the…