Sales of Potato snacks rise as families stay in to beat recession

A survey in the United Kingdom has shown that sales of couch potato snacks have risen as hard-up families choose thrifty TV evenings rather than a night out.

Purchases of nibbles have increased by more than 20 per cent in two years.

Chocolate saw the biggest rise, soaring 66 per cent, followed by peanuts, crisps and biscuits.

An average household spent just over £272 a year on comfort food at the start of the recession and now that figure is almost £330, the survey found.

It was carried out by price comparison website mySuper market.co.uk.