It is quite evident that inflation has taken its toll, hitting those on the tightest budgets hardest as the prices of staple foods such as white bread, cheddar cheese, and pork sausages have surged 80% in recent years.
As per the consumer group Which? Porridge oats prices have surged to 35.5%, skim milk prices to 33.6%, and cheddar cheese prices to 28.3%.
Topping the study’s list of the most inflationary product lines was a 180-gram pack of Dragon cheddar cheese from Asda, which had a price increase of 80% from a year earlier. Own-label cheddar sticks from the same supermarket had a slight increase of 79%. Similar to Tesco’s best-value Woodside Farms pork sausages, Asda’s inexpensive Just Essentials pork sausages saw a 73% rise.
The head of food policy at Which?, Sue Davies, stated: “Our latest supermarket food and drink tracker paints a bleak picture for the millions of households already skipping meals of how inflation is impacting prices on supermarket shelves, with the poorest once again feeling the brunt of the cost of living crisis.”
“While the whole food chain affects prices, supermarkets have the power to do more to support people who are struggling, including ensuring everyone has easy access to basic, affordable food ranges at a store near them, particularly in areas where people are most in need.”
According to the survey conducted by Which?, as per the recent trend due to high energy and commodity costs, supermarkets have hiked prices on their budget ranges, regular own-label goods, and international brands.
As per food campaigner Jack Monroe, the poorest are the hardest hit by inflation as the trend in prices increases.
Although supermarket own-label budget items are the cheapest overall, prices surged by 24.8% in March year over year, as revealed by Which? In the same period, the price of the own-label brands surged by 20.5%, while the branded and premium own brands surged by 13.8%.
In the four weeks leading up to March 19, statistics from Kantar revealed that total grocery costs rose by an all-time high of 17.5% year over year.
A dramatic increase in the prices of wholesale fruits and vegetables like carrots has increased by 80%, cauliflower by 161%, and tomatoes by 142% since 2019, as per the government data analyzed by Labour.
The shadow environment secretary, Jim McMahon, conveyed: “The Tories’ shambolic handling of food security over the last 13 years has resulted in huge vegetable price increases across the country.”
“The environment secretary might be all for turnips, but the latest figures show the reality that British families are having to fork out even more for their tomatoes, carrots, and cauliflower.”
A spokesperson from Asda stated that: “We’re working hard to keep prices in check for customers despite global inflationary pressures, and we remain the lowest-priced major supermarket—a position recognized by Which? in their regular monthly basket comparison, which has named Asda as the cheapest supermarket for a big shop every month for the last three years.”
A spokesperson from Tesco revealed, “With household budgets under continued pressure, we remain absolutely focused on providing great value for our customers. Our market-leading combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices, and Clubcard Prices means we are the most competitive we have ever been.”
- Published By Team Timeswire