Food shopping bills will rocket by more than £680 on average over the next year as prices hit a new record high.
Figures out today from number crunchers Kantar revealed grocery price inflation reached 14.7 per cent last month.
It is more than double the 6% average wages are rising by, and almost seven times the rate for public sector workers.
Fraser McKevitt, Kantar’s head of retail and consumer insight, warned it was too early to say if prices had peaked.
He added: “Consumers face a £682 jump in their annual grocery bill if they continue to buy the same items.”
A Kantar survey also found just over a quarter of all households now say they are struggling financially, double the proportion last November.
Mr McKevitt went on: “Nine in 10 of this group say higher food and drink prices are a major concern, second only to energy bills, so it’s clear just how much grocery inflation is hitting people’s wallets and adding to their domestic worries.”
Many families in the grip of the cost of living crisis as changing their shopping habits to save money.
Sales of supermarket own-label products jumped by 10.3% over the latest four weeks. Demand for cheapest value ranges soared 42%.
Some consumers found light relief at Halloween. Just over one in 10 households bought a pumpkin in October, although sales were down compared with last year.
Meanwhile, fewer people are stocking the cupboards for Christmas, preferring to wait until later in the year.
Mr McKevitt said: “This time last year two million consumers had already bought their festive Christmas pudding.
“We’ve seen 32% fewer shoppers doing that this time around, suggesting people are not trying to spread the cost of their purchasing - at least not in October.”
Budget supermarket Aldi was the fastest growing retailer in the latest period, increasing its sales by 22.7% year on year.
Sue Davies, head of food policy, at consumer group Which?, said: “The rocketing price of food is a real concern with millions of people skipping meals or struggling to put healthy meals on the table.
“It is essential that households get the support they need from the government and businesses amid the cost of living crisis.
“ Supermarkets must ensure budget lines for healthy and affordable essential items are widely available across their stores.
“Promotions should be targeted at those most in need and people supported so they can easily compare the price of products to get the best value.”
Supermarket prices breakdown
Tesco
Long grain white rice 1kg - £1.35
Potatoes 2.5kg - £1.05
Chopped Tomatoes 400g - 32p
Baked beans 420g - 27p
White bread 800g - 39p
Carrots 1kg - 45p
British Steak mince 5% Fat 500g - £2.89
Chicken Breast fillets 950G - £5.80
Onions 1Kg - £1
Salted British butter 250g - £1.99
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.25
Bananas 5k - 70p
Penne pasta 500g - 35p
Toilet rolls 6pk - £1.70
Tuna chunks in brine 145g - 55p
Corn flakes 500g - 60p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 89p
Mature cheddar cheese 400g -£3
Medium eggs 6 pack - £1.15
Easy peelers clementines 600g - £1.30
Total: £27.00
Asda
Long grain white rice 1kg - 48p
Potatoes 2.5kg - £1.15
Chopped Tomatoes 400g - 32p
Baked beans 410g - 25p
White bread 800g - 39p
Carrots 1kg - 49p
British steak mince 5% Fat 500g - £2.90
Chicken breast fillets 1kg - £6.20
Onions 1kg - 65p
Salted British Butter 250g - £2.15
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.25
Bananas 5pk - £1
Penne 500g - 95p
Toilet rolls 6pk- £1.93
Tuna Chunks In Brine 145g - 55p
Corn flakes 450g - 60p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 95p
Mature cheddar cheese 400g - £3
Medium eggs 6 pack - £1.25
Easy peelers clementines 600g - £1.29
Total: £27.75
Morrisons
Long grain white rice 1kg - 95p
Potatoes 2.5kg - £1.29
Chopped tomatoes 400g - 39p
Baked beans 410g - 39p
White bread 800g - 79p
Carrots 1kg - 45p
British steak mince 5% fat 500g - £2.89
Chicken breast fillets 1kg - £6.09
Onions 1kg - 65p
Salted British butter 250g - £1.99
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.25
Bananas 5pk - 79p
Penne pasta 500g - 89p
Toilet rolls 6pk - £1.50
Tuna chunks in brine 145g - 99p
Corn flakes 500g - 99p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 89p
Mature cheddar 350g - £3
Medium eggs 6 pack- £1.25
Easy peelers clementines 600g - £1.29
Total: £28.72
Sainsbury’s
Long grain white rice 1kg - 45p
Potatoes 2.5kg - £1.05
Chopped Tomatoes 400g - 32p
Baked Beans 400g - 25p
White bread 800g - 39p
Carrots 1kg - 45p
British steak mince 5% Fat 500g - £3.20
Chicken breast fillets 1kg - £6.09
Onions 1kg - 70p
Salted British Butter 250g - £1.99
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.50
Bananas 5pk - 71p
Penne pasta 500g - 95p
Toilet rolls 4pk- £2
Tuna in Brine 160g - £1.05
Corn Flakes 500g - 59p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 89p
Mature cheddar cheese 400g - £2.85
Medium eggs 6 pack - £1.10
Easy peelers clementines 600g - 89p
Total: £27.42
Marks and Spencer
Long grain white rice 1kg- £1.70
Potatoes 2kg - £2.70
Chopped tomatoes 400g - 45p
Baked beans 400g - 50p
White bread 800g - 80p
Carrots 1kg - 70p
British steak mince 5% Fat 500g - £4
Chicken breast fillets 1kg - £10.75
Onions 1kg - £1.10
Salted British Butter 250g - £2.15
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.70
Fair-trade bananas 6k - £1.30
Penne pasta 500g - 90p
Toilet rolls 4pk - £3.15
Tuna in spring water 160g - £1.05
Corn flakes - 85p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - £1.05
Mature cheddar cheese 350g - £2.25
Medium eggs 6 pack - £1.60
Easy peelers clementines 600g - £2.50
Total: £41.20
Waitrose
Long grain white rice 1kg - £1.60
Maris Piper potatoes 2.5kg - £1.15
Chopped tomatoes 400g - 60p
Baked beans 400g - 50p
White bread 800g - 75p
Carrots 1kg - 70p
British steak mince 5% Fat 400g - £4.95
Chicken breast fillets 1kg - £6.69
Onions 1kg - £1
British Salted butter 250g - £2.20
Salad peppers 3 pack - £1.70
Bananas 5 pack - £1
Penne pasta 500g - 95p
Toilet rolls 4pk - £2.45
Tuna in brine 112g - £1.25
Corn flakes 500g - £1
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 90p
Mature cheddar cheese 350g - £2.75
Medium eggs 6 pack - £2.10
Easy peelers clementines 600g - £1.80
Total: £36.04
Aldi
Long Grain Rice 1kg - 45p
Potatoes 2.5kg - £1.15
Chopped tomatoes 400g - 32p
Baked beans 420g - 26p
White bread 800g - 39p
Carrots 1kg - 45p
British steak mince 5% Fat 500g - £2.89
Chicken Breast Fillets 1kg - £6.09
Onions 1kg - 55p
Salted British butter 250g - £1.99
Salad peppers 3pk - £1.25
Bananas 5 pack - 71p
Penne pasta 500g - 35p
Toilet rolls 4pk - £1.59
Tuna in brine 145g - 69p
Corn flakes - 59p
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 89p
Mature cheddar cheese 400g - £2.65
Medium eggs 6 pack- 99p
Easy peelers clementines 600g - 89p
Total: £25.14
Iceland
Long Grain Rice 1kg - £1.30
Potatoes 1.5kg - £2.20
Chopped Tomatoes 400g - 45p
Baked Beans 420g - 40p
White bread 800g - 69p
Carrots 600g - £1
British steak mince 5% Fat 650g - £6.25
2 x Chicken Breast fillets 900g - £8
Onions 700g - £1
Salted British butter 250g - £2.10
Salad peppers 3pk - £2.25
Bananas 5pk - £1
Penne pasta 750g - £1.35
Toilet rolls 4pk - £1.75
Tuna in brine 145g - £1
Corn flakes 750g - £2.50
Semi skimmed milk 1 pint - 89p
Mature cheddar cheese 400g - £3
Medium eggs 6 pack - £1
Easy peelers clementines 500g - £2.25
Total: £40.38