Food writer and mum Jack Monroe has slammed the 'infuriating' reality of living costs as some day-to-day groceries have seen huge cost increases over the past 12 months.
Jack, known for writing books about cooking on a modest budget, says they were left infuriated after hearing a discussion on the radio saying cost of living had increased by five per cent.
They said the use of inflation to look at how the cost of living impacts the average family "grossly underestimates" the reality.
In a now viral Twitter thread Jack, highlighted a number of products that had seen a considerable spike in price compared to the beginning of 2021.
The mother-of-one pointed to products such as pasta, bread, baked beans, canned spaghetti, and curry sauce, which have all gone up in price.
But it was rice that had seen the biggest increase, with Jack saying a kilogram bag in their local supermarket now costs £1, compared to just 45p 12 months ago - a 344 per cent price rise.
Jack said the price increases were spotted at one of the "big four" supermarkets but did not say which one.
Taking to Twitter, they said: "Woke up this morning to the radio talking about the cost of living rising a further five per cent.
"It infuriates me the index that they use for this calculation, which grossly underestimates the real cost of inflation as it happens to people with the least. Allow me to briefly explain.
"This time last year, the cheapest pasta in my local supermarket (one of the Big Four), was 29p for 500g. Today it’s 70p. That’s a 141 per cent price increase as it hits the poorest and most vulnerable households.
"This time last year, the cheapest rice at the same supermarket was 45p for a kilogram bag. Today it’s £1 for 500g. That’s a 344 per cent price increase as it hits the poorest and most vulnerable households.
"Canned spaghetti. Was 13p, now 35p. A price increase of 169 per cent.
"Bread. Was 45p, now 58p. A price increase of 29 per cent.
"Curry sauce. Was 30p, now 89p. A price increase of 196 per cent.
"A bag of small apples. Was 59p, now 89p (and the apples are even smaller!) A price increase of 51 per cent.
"Mushrooms were 59p for 400g. They’re now 57p for 250g. A price increase of 56 per cent. (This practise, of making products smaller while keeping them the same price, is known in the retail industry as ‘shrinkflation’ and its insidious as hell because it’s harder to immediately spot.)
"Peanut butter. Was 62p, now £1.50. A price increase of 142 per cent."
Woke up this morning to the radio talking about the cost of living rising a further 5%. It infuriates me the index that they use for this calculation, which grossly underestimates the real cost of inflation as it happens to people with the least. Allow me to briefly explain.
— jack monroe (@BootstrapCook)
And in a follow-up Tweet Jack said there had been a decrease in the amount of foods available in supermarket budget ranges.
But they did highlight luxury ready meals and dine-in deals which they said has largely stayed the same in terms of cost.
Jack then used the numbers from the shopping list and said the average dine in for £10 type deal would cost around £34.40 if it increased at the same rate as other products.
Closing the Twitter thread, Jack added: "The system by which we measure the impact of inflation is fundamentally flawed - it completely ignores the reality and the REAL price rises for people on minimum wages, zero hour contracts, food bank clients, and millions more.
"We’re either all in this together, or we aren’t. (Spoiler: we aren’t)"
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea
