Essential foods, including some brands of cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausage, are up as much as 80 percent in a year, with budgets showing the biggest increases.
The figures of consumer champion Which? confirm that it is the poorest households, most dependent on budget and discount stores, that are most affected by inflation.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) food inflation rate for February was 18.2 percent, but budgets have increased by a whopping 24.8 percent, according to the new research.
As a result, millions struggle to put healthy meals on the table, while some parents do without to make sure children don’t go hungry.
Experts in Which? analyzed the inflation of more than 26,000 foods and drinks at eight major supermarkets – Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose – in March.
Essential foods, including some brands of cheddar, white bread, porridge and sausages, are up as much as 80 percent in a year, with budgets showing the biggest increases
The largest was seen on Dragon Welsh Mature Cheddar (180g), which went from £1 to £1.80 at Asda – an 80 per cent increase
The consumer group analyzed the inflation of more than 26,000 foods and drinks in eight major supermarkets: Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.
It also selected a basket of staple foods including cheddar cheese, sliced white bread, pork sausages, white potatoes and oatmeal to see which of these everyday items had seen the biggest price increases.
Cheddar cheese prices rose by an average of 28.3 percent in all supermarkets. The biggest was seen with Dragon Welsh Mature Cheddar (180g), which went from £1 to £1.80 at Asda – an 80 per cent increase.
The price of oatmeal porridge at the supermarkets rose by an average of 35.5 percent. At Ocado, Quaker Oat So Simple Protein Porridge Pot Original (49g) went from 94p to £1.56 – a 65.5 per cent increase.
The average increase of a large slice of white bread was 22.8 percent. However, The Bakery at Asda Soft White Medium Sliced Bread (800g) went from 56p to 94p – an increase of 67 per cent.
Looking at white potatoes, the average price increase is 14 percent. At Morrisons, a pack of four Baking Potatoes went from 40 pence to 66 pence – an increase of 63.5 percent.
For pork sausages, the average increase was 26.8 percent. At Asda, the budget range Just Essentials by Asda 8 Pork Sausages (454g) went from 81p to £1.40, which is a 73.5 per cent increase. Similarly, the value version at Tesco, Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages (454g), went from 80p to £1.39 – a 73.3 per cent increase.
The figures show that it is still the cheapest products that are hit hardest by inflation in percentage terms.
The group’s tracker also shows that supermarket own-brand budget items – which are still the cheapest overall – rose 24.8 percent in March compared to the same time last year, more than the increase in 20.5 percent seen on standard supermarket own brands and the 13.8 percent on branded and premium private label ranges.
The value version of sausages at Tesco (pictured), Woodside Farms 8 Pork Sausages (454g) went from 80p to £1.39 – a 73.3 per cent increase
The consumer group warned that even cheap foods, while remaining a cheaper option, risk becoming too expensive for those on the tightest of budgets.
Which? now calls on all major supermarkets to do more to help struggling customers as part of the Affordable Food For All campaign.
Sue Davies, head of food policy, said: ‘Our latest food and drink tracker in supermarkets paints a bleak picture for the millions of households already skipping meals: how inflation is affecting prices on supermarket shelves, with the poorest once again bearing the brunt. become of the cost of living crisis.
“As the entire food chain impacts prices, supermarkets have the power to do more to support those in need, including ensuring everyone has easy access to simple, affordable food selections in a store near them. , especially in areas where people need it most .
‘Supermarkets must also offer transparent prices, so that people can easily determine which products are the cheapest.’
At Morrisons, a pack of four Baking Potatoes went from 40 pence to 66 pence – an increase of 63.5 percent
The retailers insist they are making an effort to keep prices down, although several – Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco – have not issued a formal response to the findings.
Asda said: ‘We remain the cheapest major supermarket… we recently announced that we would freeze the prices of more than 500 popular branded and private label products.’
Sainsbury’s said: ‘In the last two years we have invested more than £550m in driving down prices as part of our aim to put food back at the heart of Sainsbury’s.’
Aldi added: “Through initiatives such as our Aldi Price Match campaign, Price Lock and My Nectar Prices, customers can find low prices on the products they buy most often, both in stores and online, including: butter, broccoli, cabbage and carrots. ‘
Waitrose said: ‘We work hard to keep our prices as low as possible while paying our farmers and suppliers fairly and maintaining high animal welfare standards.’
Ocado said, “Everything we do starts with our customers and we know how important value is to them right now.”
