The cost of living crisis continues to bite, with rate of inflation currently at a 40-year high. According to the Office for National Statistics, the consumer prices index (CPI) rose from 9% in April to 9.1% in May this year - a level unseen since February 1982, amid record prices for petrol and the soaring cost of food.
Meanwhile, average pay rises are failing to match the rise in the cost of living. A few workers in high-paid jobs have enjoyed higher bonuses and inflation-busting pay rises – it has recently been reported that CEO pay has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, for instance. But for the majority of workers, higher price inflation is now eroding the real value of what they earn.
In May, we spent a day speaking to a range of shoppers outside a Tesco Express store in Canton, Cardiff, about how their shopping habits had been affected by the cost of living. One mum-of-three we spoke to estimated her shop estimated her grocery shop had increased "at least £20 to £30 a week", and she said she had started to buy more value brands. You can read more about what the customers had to say about the rising prices here.
In June 2021, we did a weekly shop of 26 products - buying only Tesco's own-brand food and household goods - which cost us £47.28 in total. Back then, inflation stood at 2.5% - almost four times less than the current rate. So, how do the prices for the exact same shopping list compare a year on in June 2022?
The overall price had increased by £4.12 twelve months on to £51.40 - a percentage increase of about 8.7%. 16 products increased in price, one decreased and nine remained the same. From our snapshot of goods, there does not seem to be any patterns in terms of how different products have been affected - for example, fruit and veg fell into all three categories, as well as cupboard staples like rice, pasta and teabags.
The biggest price rise by far was a whole medium chicken, which went up by £1.30. Other notable increases included a three-pack of peppers (up by 35p), a bottle of milk (up by 35p), a bag of frozen chips (up by 27p), a box of fish fingers (up by 25p), a bag of pasta (up by 25p), a box of cornflakes (up by 20p), and a bag of basmati rice (up by 20p). A head of broccoli, a punnet of grapes and a tin of baked beans all went up by 10p - a smaller rise, though still noticeable. A box of teabags were the only item to go down, by 10p.
Here is a full breakdown comparing both receipts:
Meat and fish products
Whole medium chicken - up £1.30
June 2021 - £3
June 2022 - £4.30
Salmon fillets (two-pack, 260g) - up 15p
June 2021 - £3.85
June 2022 - £4
Bakery items
Multiseed bread loaf - up 15p
June 2021 - 95p
June 2022 - £1.10
Digestive biscuits - up 5p
June 2021 - 50p
June 2022 - 55p
Fruit and vegetables
Red seedless grapes - up 10p
June 2021 - £2
June 2022 - £2.10
Whole mango - same price
June 2021 - 85p
June 2022 - 85p
Broccoli (one head) - up 10p
June 2021 - 55p
June 2022 - 65p
Salad tomatoes (six-pack) - same price
June 2021 - 80p
June 2022 - 80p
Sweet peppers (three-pack) - up 35p
June 2021 - £1.35
June 2022 - £1.70
Mixed leaf salad bag - same price
June 2021 - £1
June 2022 - £1
Pink Lady apples (six-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £2.80
June 2022 - £2.80
Frozen goods
Frozen steak cut chips - up 27p
June 2021 - £1.58
June 2022 - £1.85
Fish fingers (ten-pack) - up 25p
June 2021 - £1.20
June 2022 - £1.45
Drinks
Semi-skimmed milk (2 pints) - up 35p
June 2021 - 85p
June 2022 - £1.20
Tesco Finest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - same price (assumed)
June 2021 - £9
June 2022 - not in stock, assumed to be £9
Smooth orange juice (1L) - up 5p
June 2021 - £1.45
June 2022 - £1.50
Cupboard staples
Cornflakes (500g) - up 20p
June 2021 - 70p
June 2022 - 90p
Tin of baked beans - up 10p (bought 4 tins)
June 2021 - 35p
June 2022 - 45p
Fusilli pasta (500g) - up 25p
June 2021 - 60p
June 2022 - 85p
Teabags (pack of 80) - down 10p
June 2021 - £1.25
June 2022 - £1.15
Tin of chopped tomatoes - same price (bought 2 tins)
June 2021 - 30p
June 2022 - 30p
Basmati rice (1kg) - up 20p
June 2021 - £1.85
June 2022 - £2.05
Olive oil (500ml) - same price (assumed)
June 2021 - £2.75
June 2022 - not in stock, assumed to be £2.75
Tesco Finest Salt and Vinegar Crisps - same price
June 2021 - £1
June 2022 - £1
Household items
Antibacterial handwash - up 5p
June 2021 - 85p
June 2022 - 90p
Toilet paper (nine-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £3.75
June 2022 - £3.75
June 2021 total: £47.28 (including 4 bags for life, 20p each)
June 2022 total: £51.40 (including 4 bags for life, 20p each)
Up by: £4.12
A Tesco spokesperson said: “With household budgets under increasing pressure we are absolutely committed to helping our customers, by keeping a laser focus on the cost of the weekly shop. We have significantly increased the number of value lines we offer and whether it’s price matching basics to Aldi prices, promising Low Everyday Prices on household staples, or offering exclusive deals and rewards through thousands of Clubcard Prices – we’re more committed than ever to providing our customers with great value.”
Have you noticed an increase in the price of your weekly shop? Let us know in the comments below.
