Lowest priced food items rising at the fastest rate: study

Supermarkets are increasing the price of their value items more quickly than more expensive items, according to an analysis by price intelligence company Skuuudle.

The study, one the biggest of its kind, tracked the cost of almost 19,000 items in UK supermarkets on a daily basis from July to December and found that items originally below 75p accelerated at the fastest rate.

These items include many value range products including biscuits, chocolate, snacks, oils, rice, pasta, cans and packets of food.

Yet items priced above £5 in July have actually fallen in price, possibly as a result of reduced demand for high cost items.

Food staples selling for under 75p have risen by 16 per cent while items selling for over five pounds have decreased in price up to nearly four percent, according to the data.

Skuuudle tracked the price of 18,790 supermarket food products from sauces to cereals, and the figures show a direct correlation between original cost and rate of increase with cheaper  items increasing in price at a higher rate than more expensive alternatives.

Items priced between 75p and £1.50 back in July increased by eight percent while items priced from £1.50 to £5 went up by almost four percent.

Skuuudle generates market-leading data analytics that helps compare like for like products and accurately track changes in price of the same items across different retailers.

A Skuuudle spokesman said that retailers have an unenviable ‘balancing act’ to perform when it comes to pricing, having to consider the needs of the customer, their suppliers and the supply chain.

“The changes make difficult reading for those on low incomes who are seeing the cost of many value items increase but who may not be able to benefit at all from the reduction in price of more expensive items,” he said.

“This change could well be driven by a reduced demand for more expensive items as more people turn to value products during the cost of living crisis.

“Supermarkets are having to contend with increasing costs associated with production and shipping, while issues of supply are driving costs up further.

“What is interesting is how supermarkets are choosing to pass increased costs onto consumers. Our data reveals that it’s the prices of the cheapest food items which are rising at the highest rate while many expensive items have actually become cheaper.

“It is often the cheapest items in our baskets that we pay the least attention to so understanding that some of these staples might be increasing at a faster rate will help the most value conscious shoppers stay in control of their weekly food shop bills.”