One food item now 188% more expensive than a year ago as price of basics up 30%

The price of basic groceries such as butter, milk and cheese went up 30% year-on-year at some supermarkets in December, new figures show.

While overall food and drink inflation reached 15% in December across the eight major supermarkets, butters and spreads rose by an “astonishing” 29.4%, according to tracking by watchdog Which?

Milk was 26.3% more expensive than a year before, while cheese (22.3%), bakery items (19.5%), water (18.6%) and savoury pies, pastries and quiches (18.5%) also saw higher-than-average price increases.