I bought a basket of essentials from every supermarket from Aldi to Tesco and Waitrose and the most expensive shocked me
THE cost of some everyday groceries has more than doubled in the past year.
As prices continue to soar at their fastest rate in 45 years, the Office for National Statistics has revealed that food and drink price inflation surged in March, rising by 19.2 per cent.
The price of bread and cereals increased by the fastest on record.
Consumer expert Martyn James says: “Food price increases are far exceeding the record-breaking rises in inflation at the moment.
“It’s vital to shop around for the best deals and do your research.
“With prices shifting by the week, don’t assume that the cheapest supermarket is still the best value in a fortnight.”
READ MORE ON SUPERMARKET PRICES
So where is the cheapest place to shop for groceries right now?
Lynsey Hope bought ten supermarket essentials to find out.
Aldi: £14.35
- Milk (2 pints): £1.25
- Cheddar cheese: £2.79
- Penne pasta: 79p
- Chocolate digestives: 59p
- Tea bags (160): £1.39
- Eggs: £1.55
- Bananas: 92p
- 2 chicken breasts: £2.29
- White sliced bread: 79p
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘Third cheapest and top quality, too. The meat looks good and the own-brand stuff stood up in taste tests.’
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Prices and availability can vary by store, and Aldi do have a range of cheaper/savers products if you are really watching the pennies and this would bring the price down even further.
Waitrose: £18.65
- Milk (2 pints): £1.35
- Cheddar cheese: £2.50
- Penne pasta: £1.90
- Chocolate digestives: 90p
- Tea bags (80): £1.10
- Eggs: £2.50
- Bananas: 85p
- 2 chicken breasts: £4.40
- White sliced bread: £1.15
- Butter: £2
Lynsey says: ‘Only supermarket to charge over £1.30 for two pints of milk. Chicken and pasta were extortionate, too.’
Tesco: £16.48
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Cheddar cheese: £3.20
- Penne pasta: 95p
- Chocolate digestives: 85p
- Tea bags (80): £2.60
- 6 eggs: £1.40
- Bananas: 79p
- 2 chicken breasts: £2.55
- White sliced bread: 85p
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘Only had Tesco Finest tea, which bumped up the price. Cheese was costly but the eggs were good value.’
Asda: £20.09
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Cheddar cheese: £5.50
- Penne pasta: 95p
- Chocolate digestives: 85p
- Tea bags (240): £2.50
- 6 eggs: £2
- Bananas: £1
- 2 chicken breasts: £3
- White sliced bread: £1
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘Most expensive, but we could only buy a bigger cheese and 240 tea bags so you get more for your money.’
Lidl: £13.83
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Cheddar cheese: £2.79
- Penne pasta: 41p
- Chocolate digestives: 69p
- Tea bags (80): £1.09
- 6 eggs: £1.99
- Bananas: 89p
- 2 chicken breasts: £2.29
- White sliced bread: 39p
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘My local branch was packed and now I know why. It’s cheapest – and the pasta and cheese were big, too.’
Sainsbury’s: £14.68
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Own-brand mature Cheddar: £3.20
- Penne pasta: 95p
- Chocolate digestives: 75p
- Tea bags (40): 70p
- 6 eggs: £1.75
- Bananas: 79p
- 2 chicken breasts: £2.50
- White sliced bread: 75p
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘Middle of the road. The ten items cost less than at Tesco and Asda and I thought the quality was often better.’
Morrisons: £14.31
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Cheddar cheese: £2.99
- Penne pasta: 95p
- Chocolate digestives: 85p
- Tea bags (40): 75p
- Eggs: £1.39
- Bananas: 99p
- 2 chicken breasts: £2.25
- White sliced bread: 85p
- Butter: £1.99
Lynsey says: ‘Morrisons was second cheapest to Lidl. It had the cheapest chicken but we didn’t get as many tea bags.’
M&S: £17.41
- Milk (2 pints): £1.30
- Cheddar cheese: £2.90
- Fusilli pasta: 71p
- Chocolate digestives: £1.10
- Tea bags (80): £1.10
- 6 eggs: £2
- Bananas: £1.20
- 2 chicken breasts: £4.25
- White sliced bread: 85p
- Butter: £2
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Lynsey says: ‘There are great deals to be had, including on pasta. Its own-brand tea tasted better than famous brands’
Milk prices at all the supermarkets have since gone down to £1.25.