The average family is now spending almost £20 a week more on their weekly food shopping than they were 12 months ago as the cost of groceries continues to rise, new figures have revealed.
A new survey by grocery comparison website Mysupermarket.co.uk found that the prices of 24 common supermarket items such as tea bags, milk and pasta sauce has risen by 19.1 per cent since May 2007.
The website said that inflation is costing a family spending around £100 a week on groceries an extra £993 over the course of a year, or £19.10 a week.
The survey found the cost of Basmati rice is up more than 60 per cent in 12 months from 90p for 1kg to £1.45, with giant supplier Tilda warning of a further rise of around 30 per cent in the coming year.
Six pints of semi-skimmed milk are 28p more expensive than a year ago, with prices rising from £1.68 to £1.96 at Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys .
Similarly, a dozen medium free-range eggs now cost £2.58 at all three retailers, an increase of more than 47 per cent, while the prices of salted butter and English mild cheddar were up by 62 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
The basket of staple foods also included potatoes, bolognese sauce, cornflakes and oil .
Johnny Stern, managing director of MySupermarket.co.uk, said: “Once again we’re seeing increases in the price of the average family’s food basket, in particular wheat and dairy-based products .”
Economists say a range of factors is pushing food prices upwards. The rising consumption of meat in economies such as China’s has increased demand for the grain used to raise livestock.
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