LONDON, July 19 Reuters Consumer goods giants including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and Reckitt are likely to report weak secondquarter sales growth from Europe and the United States, as consumers opt for brands that have been better at slowing price hikes, Nielsen data shows.

Analysts and investors have voiced concerns for several quarters about food, beauty and household products makers not being able to win back shoppers they alienated when they hiked prices for over two years in the wake of the pandemic.

The inflation sparked a global costofliving crisis, with increases in North America spreading to Europe and the rest of the world.

The ability to cut prices or keep them in check across the consumer and food sector is determining which companies report better sales, increase market share and protect margins.

Sales volume and margin growth will be the key performance indicators this quarter, with product innovation also a priority, Barclays analyst Warren Ackerman said. Less affluent U.S. consumers remained under pressure, he added.

Unilever and Danone look to have volume momentum but questions remain at Nestle, Ackerman said.

Nestle in April missed firstquarter organic sales growth estimates, as the world39;s biggest packaged food company continued to hike prices and therefore sold fewer products, particularly in North America.

Sales in stores in Europe at companies including Reckitt, Kellogg and PG are estimated to have declined in dollar terms in each of the past…