Eleven supermarket staples that increased the MOST in price since 2021 – plus the cheaper ones too

OLIVE OIL, chocolate and milk are among eleven supermarket staples that have been hit hardest by inflation. It comes as the latest figures show inflation hit 2.9% in July up from 2.6% the prior month. It comes as the latest figures show inflation hit 2.9% in July up from 2.6% the prior month Credit: Getty Inflation is a measure of how fast the costs of goods and services are rising. Rising inflation means prices are going up faster than they were the month before, pushing up grocery and household bills. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Analysts at AJ Bell have examined the products most affected by the rate increasing since the cost of living crisis began. It has been five years since the cost-of-living crisis began with inflation jumping to 3.2% in August 2021 and eventually reaching double digits. The top offender was olive oil which has risen by a whopping 116% in the past five years. “Prices for the oil peaked higher than this, thanks to a combination of poor harvests and higher energy costs, before dropping back again,” Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell, said. Meanwhile, other household essentials such as pasta and chocolates have jumped by 54.9% and 51.2% respectively. You can check out the full list of products hit the hardest by inflation below: Most read in Money Household itmes hat increased in price most since the cost of living crisis begun Olive oil – 116.3% Edible offal – 75.8% Beef and veal – 61.3% Eggs – 56.7% Pasta products and couscous – 54.9% Chocolate – 51.2% Whole milk – 45.8% Cheese – 42.2% Fast food and takeaway food services -38.1% Bread -30.2% Beer -23.3% Talk of rising food prices comes as households are also battling higher fuel and electricity costs, which has been driven by conflict between the US and Iran. But other items have managed to dodge the hit, including cleaning equipment and personal laptops. The items have fallen by 10.7% and 24.6% respectively. TVs and other electronics have fallen by a whopping 30%. Laura added: “It’s been a rollercoaster ride for prices since the cost-of-living crunch began five years ago. “In August 2021 we saw inflation begin to tick up and the cost at the checkout, pumps and even at the vets has risen from there. “While there were some small reprieves during that time, where prices dropped back, there’s no denying that many costs are still dramatically higher than they were before the crisis began.” How to save money on your food shop Consumer reporter Laura McGuire reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year: Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price. Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30. Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash. Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public. Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio. Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount. Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses. Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap. But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here. Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds. “Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands. The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop. Comment now