Certain staple foods such as meat, vegetables, yoghurt and porridge oats have increased by as much as 145 per cent over the past year, according to new research.

Consumer champion Which? analysed the prices of around 27,000 food and drink items at eight supermarkets to see how individual product prices are affected.

One of the biggest price increases Which? found was porridge oats at Tesco, up from £1.23 to £3 in the three months to the end of September.

At Asda, Which? found the price of natural yoghurt rose 78 per cent from £1 to £1.78 over the same period.

The consumer champion said that while the rate of inflation had fallen to 11.2 percent across all eight supermarkets it looked at, Sainsbury’s had the highest inflation rate when compared to the same 12-week period of 2022.

The supermarket had an inflation rate of 14 per cent, with Which? attributing this to the retailer’s shift towards offering discounts to Nectar card holders. Which? said that this appears to have pushed up the average prices for customers who do not have the loyalty card.

Which? contacted the supermarkets to verify the price increases, but all three declined to comment.

“While the general rate of inflation may be easing, everyday essential foods are still subject to crippling price hikes on supermarket shelves,” said Sue Davies, head of food policy at Which? “We know millions of people up and down the country continue to struggle to put food on the table, let alone maintain a balanced diet for themselves or their loved ones.”

She added: “Supermarkets have the power to ease the huge pressure faced by shoppers, especially families and those on low incomes. They can do more to help by stocking a range of budget range items that will support a healthy diet in their convenience stores. Which? research has found that these stores rarely, if ever, stock the cheapest products.”

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