Mum repeats big Tesco shop from 2020 and is astonished at how prices have risen

15 January 2023 , 04:56

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Several basic food items have soared in price over the last three years (Image: Manchester Family/MEN)

As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, one mum has chosen to take an inventory of all the products that have shot up in price at Tesco.

Emma Gill, the Parents Editor at the Manchester Evening News, has done an extensive analysis of the price hikes - by repeating the exact same grocery shop from January 2020, just before the pandemic began to really take hold.

"Shockingly almost half of the 43 products have gone up by 50% or more, with the biggest hike being Tesco's angel cake, up from 62p to £1.60 - a 158% increase," Emma wrote for the M.E.N.

"Other big increases include Soreen malt loaf, up from 60p to £1.40 (133.3%), Pitch chocolate bread's up from 75p to £1.50 (100%) and Tesco vanilla cheesecake, up from £2 to £3.90 (95%)."

Emma repeated the exact same shop she'd done in January 2020 (Manchester Family/MEN)

Last week, Tesco was revealed as more expensive than a host of other supermarkets for basic items such as milk, bread, coffee, tea bags, and butter.

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Some everyday items, however, appear to have gone up across most of the leading supermarkets.

"It's quite worrying to see how much essentials like milk have gone up - with a four-pint bottle of skimmed up 50% from £1.10 to £1.65 - the price most supermarkets are selling it for now," Emma wrote.

"As for the four-pack of Heinz Beanz, it's depressing to see the family favourite has risen from £2.50 to £3.99. And you'll now pay a whopping £2 for a single tin of Heinz Spaghetti & Sausages, which are up 60%. Even if you take advantage of the 3 for £5 Clubcard offer, it's still £1.66 a tin, compared with £1.25."

Basics such as baked beans have seen a hike in price (Manchester Family/MEN)

Emma explained that a total of 36 out of the 44 products bought have gone up since 2020, with three staying the same and just four reducing.

"The reductions on the four costing less - potatoes, carrots, garlic flatbread and ham - are all due to either 'Aldi price match' or the retailer's Clubcard," she added.

Emma pointed out that these increases "represent a 35% hike overall, with the bill rising from £63.27 in 2020, to £85.44 this week".

"In the last year alone the bill has risen by 11% - and shoppers are being warned that we're not out of the woods yet."

Tesco insists that its price match schemes and Clubcard deals are continuing to keep their prices fair (Manchester Family/MEN)

Tesco announced a new price-lock commitment earlier this month, freezing the prices of more than 1,000 everyday products until Easter.

The supermarket insists that with its Aldi Price Match, Clubcard, and Low Everyday Prices initiatives, it has "significantly increased the number of value lines" it sells.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “With household budgets under increasing pressure we are absolutely committed to helping our customers, by keeping a laser focus on the cost of the weekly shop.

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“So whether it’s price matching Aldi on the basics, locking the price of more than a thousand household staples until Easter 2023, or offering exclusive deals and rewards through thousands of Clubcard Prices – we’re more committed than ever to providing our customers with great value.”

Emma Gill