The price of budget pasta has jumped by half in the last year – while the cost of several other everyday food and drink items is also rising rapidly. That’s according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) analysis of the lowest-priced versions of 30 grocery products.
The research, which involved tracking online price quotes at seven major supermarket chains, found the average price of 500g of pasta had risen by around 50% from 36p in April 2021 to 53p in April this year. A 150g packet of crisps has increased by nearly 17% from 71p to 83p, while an 800g loaf of bread rose from 47p to 54p (16%).
The cost of 10 of the 30 staples looked at by the ONS went up by at least 10%, including beef mince, rice, biscuits and orange juice. Meanwhile, some of the foodstuffs had actually dropped in price over the year, including potatoes, cheese and pizza.
Overall, 13 of the low-price items increased at a faster rate than average for food and non-alcoholic drinks in the year to April (6.7%). However, when taken together they rose by roughly the same level as broader food and drink inflation.
The research comes as the growing cost of living crisis has led to concern over how the cost of basic items, often bought by those on the lowest incomes, have changed in price. The issue was recently highlighted by food writer and campaigner Jack Monroe, who said that official measures of inflation – the rise in the price of goods and services – were not reflecting the cost of living pressures faced by the poorest households.
Reacting to the ONS report on Twitter, Monroe said it backed up her own research showing that “the hikes in the value brands and basics have been much higher than average”. In cash terms, the largest average price rise was measured for beef mince, which went up by 32p for 500g to £2.34, followed by 600g of chicken breast, which increased by 28p to £3.50.
The ONS also found some evidence of so-called 'shrinkflation', with product sizes reducing but costing the same. It also noted that the value ranges of certain products represented a substantial saving for a shopper compared to the next lowest-priced equivalent item.
For over two-thirds of the staples included, the cost of buying the second-cheapest version would have been 20% more expensive. Some supermarkets have previously faced criticism for apparently removing their value ranges from the shelves.
Lowest price of groceries, April 2021 and April 2022:
Item // Price (pence) in April 2021 // Price (pence) in April 2022 // Price change (%)
- Pasta 500g // 36 // 53 // 50%
- Crisps 150g // 71 // 83 // 17%
- Bread 800g // 47 // 54 // 16%
- Beef Mince 500g // 202 // 234 // 16%
- Rice 1000g // 80 // 92 // 15%
- Biscuits 400g // 39 // 45 // 14%
- Fruit Juice (Orange) 1000ml // 63 // 72 // 14%
- Mixed Frozen Vegetables 1000g // 78 // 89 // 14%
- Fruit Squash 750ml // 44 // 49 // 12%
- Breakfast Cereal 500g // 69 // 76 // 10%
- Chicken Breast 600g // 322 // 350 // 9%
- Vegetable Oil 1000ml // 164 // 178 // 9%
- Baked Beans 400g // 29 // 31 // 7%
- Tomato Ketchup 460g // 58 // 61 // 6%
- Fish Fingers 250g // 75 // 77 // 3%
- Onions 1000g // 65 // 67 // 3%
- Ham 200g // 160 // 164 // 2%
- Tomatoes 400g // 64 // 65 // 2%
- Tea 125g // 86 // 88 // 2%
- Yoghurt 500g // 54 // 55 // 2%
- Bananas 5 pack // 73 // 74 // 1%
- Instant Coffee 100g // 134 // 135 // 1%
- Granulated Sugar 1000g // 66 // 67 // 1%
- Milk 4 pints // 126 // 127 // 0%
- Apples 6 pack // 96 // 94 // -1%
- Sausages 454g // 87 // 84 // -3%
- Chips 900g // 119 // 116 // -3%
- Pizza 300g // 99 // 95 // -4%
- Cheese 255g // 95 // 88 // -7%
- Potatoes 2500g // 87 // 75 // -14%
