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Reem Ahmed

I compared the same Tesco shop seven months apart and here's how much it's gone up

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.

You can read all our supermarkets stories here.

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?

We bought the exact same items at the Tesco Express on Cowbridge Road East in Cardiff in June 2021 and January 2022 (John Myers)

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).

These are all the items which had increased in price (John Myers)
These are all the items which had decreased in price (John Myers)

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

Salmon fillets went down by 10p (John Myers)
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

Grapes went up by 10p (John Myers)

Whole mango - down 15p

June 2021 - 85p

January 2022 - 70p

The cost of one mango decreased by 15p (John Myers)

Broccoli (one head) - down 5p

June 2021 - 55p

January 2022 - 50p

Broccoli went down by 5p (John Myers)

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

Frozen chips increased by 7p (John Myers)

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

Milk went up by 10p (John Myers)

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

Cornflakes saw one of the biggest increases at 20p (John Myers)

Tin of baked beans - up 5p

June 2021 - 35p

January 2022 - 40p

Baked beans increased by 5p (John Myers)

Fusilli pasta (500g) - up 15p

June 2021 - 60p

January 2022 - 75p

Pasta increased by 15p (John Myers)

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

Chopped tomatoes remained the same price at 30p (John Myers)

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

Handwash rose by 5p (John Myers)

Toilet paper (nine-pack) - same price

June 2021 - £3.75

January 2022 - £3.75

Overall, the shopping in January 2022 cost £1.12 more than in June 2021 (John Myers)

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.

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