The cost of UK staple foods rises by up to 80% in a year

The price of staples such as cheddar cheese, white bread and pork sausages has soared as much as 80% in some stores over the past year, further evidence of how inflation hits those on the tightest budgets are the hardest.

Boiled oatmeal topped the price rise by ranking among a basket of UK staples measured by consumer group Which?, with prices up 35.5% on average followed by skimmed milk, which rose 33.6%, and cheddar cheese, which rose by 28.3%.

However, a 180g pack of Dragon cheddar cheese at Asda cost 80% more than a year ago – putting it ahead of the study's inflationary list for individual product lines. Own brand cheddar sticks from the same retailer were up just under 79%. The budget for Asda's Just Essentials pork sausages has increased by 73%, a similar increase to Tesco's Woodside Farms best value pork sausages. "richLink" data-spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement" class="dcr-11ra563"/>

Sue Davies, food policy manager at Which? said: "Our latest supermarket food and drink tracker paints a grim picture for the millions of households already skipping meals about the impact of inflation on prices on supermarket shelves, the poorest again feeling the brunt of the cost of living crisis.

"While the entire food chain affects prices, supermarkets have the power do more to support those in need, including ensuring that everyone has easy access to affordable basic food ranges at a store near them, especially in areas where people are most in need . »

Which one? The survey reflects a recent upward price trend in supermarkets' budget ranges as well as their regular own-label and international brand products, with retailers passing on cost increases linked to rising energy costs. and raw materials.

Such increases seem to confirm fears, raised more than a year ago by food campaigner Jack Monroe, that the poorest be the hardest hit by inflation.

Which one?' s tracker shows that while supermarket own-brand budget items remain the cheapest overall, prices rose 24.8% in March year-on-year. The price of standard supermarket own brands increased by 20.5% over the same period, while branded products and premium own brand ranges increased by 13.8%.

Year-over-year price increases for all groceries reached a record 17.5% in the four weeks to March 19, according to figures from data firm Kantar.

Labour's analysis of government data also found dramatic increases in the wholesale price of everyday fruit and vegetables, with carrots up 80% since 2019, cabbage -flowers 161% and tomatoes 142%.

Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon said: "The Tories' chaotic handling of food security over the past 13 years has led to huge increases in vegetable prices across the country.

"The Secretary of the Environment may be all for the turnips, but the latest figures show the reality that British families are having to shell out even more for their tomatoes, carrots and cauliflower."

A spokesperson for 'Asda said: "We are working hard to control prices for customers despite global inflationary pressures and we remain the cheapest major supermarket - a position recognized by Which? in their regular monthly basket comparison which has named Asda the cheapest supermarket for a department store every month for the past three years.

A Tesco spokesperson said: Under constant pressure,...