Price increases turn the “cheapest supermarket” into the most expensive in just three weeks

Shoppers across the UK have been dismayed by price hikes on items such as milk, bread, teabags and butter as supermarkets struggle to keep costs down while responding to the cost of living crisis

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Protest against the cost of living

Shoppers remain dismayed by food price increases as the supermarket, which topped the list of cheapest staples three weeks ago, is now the most expensive.

But while consumers struggle to stretch their budgets during the cost-of-living crisis, retailers are also responding quickly to the economy.

Manchester evening news compares prices on basics weekly to keep track of the cheapest places to shop.

It looked at the cost of the same eight products – two pints of milk, a loaf of bread, coffee, teabags, butter, beans, chicken breasts and minced meat – at Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Last week it was reported that Lidl topped the rankings at just £9.82 across all eight products.

Despite increasing the price of milk and butter this week, it has still kept its bill lower than all other stores at £9.91.

The biggest shock, however, has come from Morrisons, who was even wearing the cheapest crown just three weeks ago, with a bill of £9.78 for the basket.

Now priced at £10.91, it’s the most expensive of them all – and taking Sainsbury’s unfortunate place for the first time.

Three separate increases have taken it there this week – the cheapest loaf of bread rising from 39p to 54p, chicken to £2.49 for a 300g pack of two breasts and mince from £1.89 to £2.19.

These meat prices are higher than any other supermarket and the minced meat is 50p more expensive than the cheapest, which is Asda’s new £1.69 Just Essentials pack.

It’s not just Morrisons raising prices, however.

Lidl, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have joined the others, raising the cost of 2 pints of milk from 99p to £1.05, with the latter two also raising the cost of their chicken.

And Lidl has increased the cost of its butter from £1.69 to £1.72 but still sells it cheaper than elsewhere.

This week total grocery bills have risen in a total of four supermarkets – Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

The only slight difference in size between our purchases are the baked beans, which range from 400g at Sainsbury’s and 410g at Asda and Morrisons to the standard 420g at Aldi, Lidl and Tesco.

And where Asda’s pack of chicken is larger, we’ve worked out the appropriate price for a fairer comparison.

Here is the shopping list and total for each supermarket (as above). f Friday 17 June)

Lidl

Loaf of white bread 800g – 36p

Milk 2 pints – £1.05 (from 99p)

Coffee 200g – £1.69

Teabags 160 – £99p

Salted Butter 250g – £1.72 (from £1.69)

Beans 420g can – 22pcs

Chicken 300g – £1.99

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £1.89

Total £9.91 (was £9.82)

Asda

Loaf of white bread 800g (Smart Price) – 39p

Milk 2 pints – £1.05

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g Just Essentials) – £1.50

Tea Bags 160 (4 x 40 pack Smart Price) – £1.12

Salted Butter 250g – £1.75

Beans 410g can (Smart Price) – 25p

Chicken (larger 350g pack at £2.65) – equivalent to £2.27

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £1.69

In total£10.02

Aldi

Loaf of white bread 800g – 36p

Milk 2 pints – £1.05

Coffee 200g – £1.69

Tea bags 160 – £1.09

Salted Butter 250g – £1.75

Beans 420g can – 22pcs

Chicken 300g – £1.99

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £1.89

Total £10.04

tesco

Loaf of white bread 800g – 36p

Milk 2 pints – £1.05 (from 99p)

Coffee 200g (2 x 100g) – £1.70

Tea Bags 160 (2 x 80 pack) – £1.10

Salted Butter 250g – £1.75

Beans 420g can – 22pcs

Chicken 300g – £2.25 (from £2.20)

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £1.89

Total £10.32 (was £10.21)

Sainsbury’s

Loaf of white bread 800g – 36p

Milk 2 pints – £1.05 (from 99p)

Coffee 200g £2 (from £1.69)

Tea bags 160 – £1.09

Salted Butter 250g – £1.75 (from £1.90)

Beans 400g can – 21pcs

Chicken 300g – £2.40 (from £2.30)

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £1.89 (from £2.10)

Total £10.75 (was £10.64)

Morrisons

Loaf of white bread 800g – 54p (from 39p)

Milk 2 pints – £1.05

Coffee (2 x 100g) – £1.50

Tea Bags 160 (2 x 80 value pack) – £1.18

Salted Butter 250g – £1.75

Beans 410g can – 21pcs

Chicken 300g – £2.49 (from £2.05)

Ground beef 500g 20% ​​fat – £2.19 (from £1.89)