The prices of supermarket own-label and budget ranges have risen faster than big-brand products during the cost of living crisis.
Consumer choice group Which? found that some store-owned products have rocketed by up to 175% in price in the past year.
It came as figures out yesterday from industry number-crunchers Kantar revealed grocery price inflation had dipped for the first time in 21 months.
Groceries are still 14.6% costlier than a year ago, but this is down from last month’s 14.7%.
But Kantar said shoppers will have to spend an extra £60 to buy the same items as last year.
The cost of a Christmas dinner for four is up 9.3% to £31. Which? said supermarket own-brand and budget ranges rose by an average of 18% year-on-year, compared to 12% for brand foods.
The biggest rise was for Waitrose chocolate chip shortbread (200g) up from 82p in October last year to £2.25 in October 2022 – an increase of 175%.
Sue Davies, of Which?, said: “Our inflation tracker lays bare the shocking scale of soaring food and drink prices.”
Meanwhile, last week, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) put overall food inflation at 12.4% for the 12 months to November - the highest rate since BRC records began.
Researchers at Kantar put food inflation at 14.7% - a 14-year high - while the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said food and non-alcoholic drinks prices are up 16.4%.
Reportedly, the soaring price of energy, animal feed and transport are behind the increases, as the increasing cost are being passed on to customers in stores.
