The rate at which prices are rising in the UK is at its highest in 30 years.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the 12 months to December 2021 inflation soared to 5.4 per cent, up from 5.1% in November - the biggest drivers being spiralling fuel and energy costs. This is the biggest annual increase since a rise of 7.1% in March 1992, and is well above the Bank of England's 2% inflation target.
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Meanwhile, separate ONS figures showed that average pay rises are failing to match the rise in the cost of living. Experts have warned that the cost of living will continue to climb over the next few months, with households set to face a "cost-of-living crunch for much of this year".
December saw prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks rising at their fastest monthly rate since January 2012 - up 1.3% in a month. You can read more about that here. On June 18, 2021, we did a weekly shop of 26 products in a Tesco Express store in Cardiff - all the shop's own-brand food and household goods - which cost us £47.28 in total.
Back then, inflation stood at 2.5% - less than half the current rate. So, how do the prices for the exact same shopping list compare seven months on in January 2022?
The overall price had increased by £1.12 seven months on to £48.40 - a percentage increase of about 2.4%.
Ten products increased in price, four decreased and 12 remained the same. From our snapshot of goods, there do 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.
Some notable price rises included a whole chicken (up by 35p), a bottle of wine (up by 35p), a box of cornflakes (up by 20p), a loaf of bread (up by 15p), a bag of pasta (up by 15p). A medium bottle of milk went up by 10p - a smaller rise, though still noticeable. Meanwhile, some unexpected decreases included a pack of salmon fillets (down by 10p) and one mango (down by 15p).
Here is a full breakdown comparing both receipts:
Meat and fish products
Whole medium chicken - up 35p
June 2021 - £3
January 2022 - £3.35
Salmon fillets (two-pack, 260g) - down 10p
June 2021 - £3.85
January 2022 - £3.75
Bakery items
Multiseed bread loaf - up 15p
June 2021 - 95p
January 2022 - £1.10
Digestive biscuits - same price
June 2021 - 50p
January 2022 - 50p
Fruit and vegetables
Red seedless grapes - up 10p
June 2021 - £2
January 2022 - £2.10
Whole mango - down 15p
June 2021 - 85p
January 2022 - 70p
Broccoli (one head) - down 5p
June 2021 - 55p
January 2022 - 50p
Salad tomatoes (six-pack) - same price
June 2021 - 80p
January 2022 - 80p
Sweet peppers (three-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £1.35
January 2022 - £1.35
Mixed leaf salad bag - same price
June 2021 - £1
January 2022 - £1
Pink Lady apples (six-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £2.80
January 2022 - not in stock, assumed to be £2.80
Frozen goods
Frozen steak cut chips - up 7p
June 2021 - £1.58
January 2022 - £1.65
Fish fingers (ten-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £1.20
January 2022 - £1.20
Drinks
Semi-skimmed milk (2 pints) - up 10p
June 2021 - 85p
January 2022 - 95p
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - up 35p
June 2021 - £9
January 2022 - £9.35
Smooth orange juice (1L) - same price
June 2021 - £1.45
January 2022 - £1.45
Cupboard staples
Cornflakes (500g) - up 20p
June 2021 - 70p
January 2022 - 90p
Tin of baked beans - up 5p
June 2021 - 35p
January 2022 - 40p
Fusilli pasta (500g) - up 15p
June 2021 - 60p
January 2022 - 75p
Teabags (pack of 80) - down 10p
June 2021 - £1.25
January 2022 - £1.15
Tin of chopped tomatoes - same price
June 2021 - 30p
January 2022 - 30p
Basmati rice (1kg) - same price
June 2021 - £1.85
January 2022 - £1.85
Olive oil (500ml) - same price
June 2021 - £2.75
January 2022 - £2.75
Household items
Antibacterial handwash - up 5p
June 2021 - 85p
January 2022 - 90p
Toilet paper (nine-pack) - same price
June 2021 - £3.75
January 2022 - £3.75
June 2021 total: £47.28
January 2022 total: £48.40
Up by: £1.12
Tesco have been approached for comment.
Have you noticed an increase in the price of your weekly shop? Let us know in the comments below.