With the UK in a cost of living crisis, the price of many popular products has risen considerably.
Research by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) found that food inflation is likely to reach 15% this summer, with monthly food bills set to rise by another £43 per month for an average family of four - meaning food inflation is estimated to reach its highest level in more than 20 years.
Budget stores such as Home Bargains and B&M are popular for their low cost items, so I decided to compare the price of 10 of the much-loved branded products on the shelves today to the price you'd pay for them last year. Not only was I interested in finding out if the items had changed in price, but I was also keen to see which store came out as cheapest overall.
READ MORE: Iceland introduces new change to help pension age shoppers
It is worth noting that there is some variation in terms of some of the items, but I have tried to do a direct comparison where possible. Here's the results of my findings, as compared to prices taken from this article published in June 2021:
Home Bargains
Heinz Salad Cream - £1.99 for a 425g + extra bottle in 2021. In 2022, a 570ml bottle costs £2.50.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Giant Chocolate Buttons - in 2021, a packet cost 85p in Home Bargains. Today, the same packet is available for £1.09.
Aquafresh active fresh toothpaste (125ml) - priced at 95p in June 2021, which was the same price in Home Bargains today.
Bliss Salted Caramel Whip Bars - these cost 99p last year and can be bought for the same price today.
L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250ml) - cost £1.99 in 2021, which was the same price it was available for today.
Domestos bleach original (750ml) - a bottle cost 99p in June 2021. The same size was not available in my local store, but you could buy 1.25L of Domestos original for £1.49, or purchase 750ml bottles of the pink, citrus or unbeatable strength Domestos for 99p.
Fox's Party Rings minis multipack - this product cost 75p in June 2021. Again, my local store didn't have the multipack in stock, but you could buy a twin pack of two 125g packs of Party Rings for 79p.
Yorkshire Tea (80s) - A pack of 80 Yorkshire Tea teabags cost £1.99 in June 2021. The Yorkshire Tea pack of 80 wasn't an option in my store today, but you could buy 72 Tetley teabags for 99p.
Heinz Beanz - a tin was priced at 79p last year. I picked up a 300g tin for 59p.
Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps (6 pack) - Cost £1.50 in both comparisons.
Overall cost (June 2021): £12.79
Overall cost (August 2022): £12.38
B&M
Heinz Salad Cream - In 2021, a 425g + extra bottle cost £1.99. A 570ml cost £2.50 today.
Cadbury Dairy Milk Giant Orange Buttons - £1 for a bag in 2021. Today, the orange flavour wasn't an option in my local store. However, for comparison, the same sized bag of original Dairy Milk buttons came in at £1.25.
Aquafresh active fresh toothpaste (125ml) - this cost £1 in 2021, which was the same price it was priced at today.
Bliss Salted Caramel Whip Bars - cost £1 in both comparisons.
L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250ml) - cost £1.99 in both comparisons.
Domestos bleach original (750ml) - cost £1 in both comparisons.
Fox's Party Rings minis multipack - cost 75p in both comparisons.
Yorkshire Tea (80s) - priced at £2 in 2021. As with Home Bargains, I couldn't find an 80 pack of Yorkshire Tea. I did, however, find a box of 72 Tetley teabags for £1.
Heinz Beanz - a tin cost 79p in 2021. I could only find a 415g tin in my local store, which cost 85p.
Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps (6 pack) - £1.50 in both comparisons.
Overall cost (June 2021): £13.02
Overall cost (August 2022): £12.84.
Verdict
Overall, Home Bargains came out as cheaper on both occasions. Surprisingly, the items I added up today were cheaper than the equivalent products that were bought last year in both stores, which was a pleasant surprise.
However, I think it's important to consider that some items couldn't be as accurately compared due to differences in product availability- for example the teabags. Overall though, I was impressed with the cost of products in Home Bargains and B&M and would definitely shop at them both more in the future.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
