Food prices up 59% over last three years

Staple food products such as bread rose in average price by 18%, while tea has increased 30% and eggs by 18%. Rice has risen by 59%.

It has also become more expensive to buy meat. The overall cost of fresh meat has risen by 10% over the last three years. However, the cost of bacon has risen by 9%, while chicken and turkey has become cheaper, falling by 6%. Fish also became cheaper, down 8%.

MySupermarket spokesman Jonny Steel said: “While prices have stabilised or even gone down over the past year, the cost of every day essentials has still dramatically increased over the last three years. Consumers may feel that they are starting to bounce back from the affects of the most recent recession, but effectively they are forking out up to 59% more for some shopping items than they were three years ago.”

The research also found it has become increasingly expensive to buy food and essentials for babies. The cost of baby care items such as wipes, cream and bath products has risen by 38%, while baby food and snacks are up 21%.

Steel added: “Shoppers need to make sure they genuinely are shopping around to get the most for their money. The Consumer Price Index may now stand at 3.2% and be down 0.2% on the previous month, but this doesn’t paint the whole picture. This is especially true when you consider the likes of basics such as bread and eggs increasing in cost by 18% over the last three years. Shoppers need to make sure they don’t become complacent now the recession is over – as the battle to save money is still very much on.”