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New survey reveals 'eyewatering' grocery price rise and shrinkflation

New survey reveals 'eyewatering' grocery price rise and shrinkflation
(Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images

Prices of some of the grocery items have risen by more than 20 percent on some goods, states a recent research by Which?, after official figures this week showed many staples' double-digit increase in price.

Which? analysed the prices of more than 21,000 groceries and found that the prices of 265 lines had gone up by more than a fifth.


Across the 20 categories of groceries Which? looked at, fizzy drinks had the biggest average price rises, at 5.9 per cent. This was followed by butters and spreads (4.9 per cent), energy drinks (4.8 per cent) and milk (4.6 per cent).

Groceries with the lowest inflation included chocolate (1.4 per cent), fresh fruit (1.6 per cent), biscuits (1.8 per cent) and vegetables (1.9 per cent).

Which? said the items that had recorded the biggest price rises included a 500g box of Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut corn flakes cereal, which had gone up by 21.4 percent at Tesco, Asda’s own-label closed cup mushrooms (250g) which were up by the same percentage and Cathedral City extra mature cheddar (350g) which rose by 21.1 percent at Ocado, i reported.

Which? used average prices at eight big supermarkets, and compared costs for December last year to the end of February this year with the same period two years previously.

The consumer group also pointed out many instances of shrinkflation as well, adding that between December 2021 and February this year, the availability of some value ranges had been more limited than previously.

Which? gave the example of the contents of Nescafé Azera Americano decaff instant coffee which shrank from 100g to 90g in Tesco in February this year but its price remained at £5.49. That is an effective price increase to shoppers of 11 per cent per 100g.

Similarly, Walkers Classic Variety crisps went from 24 bags in a multipack to 22 bags at Tesco, Asda and Morrisons last autumn, but stayed the same price.

The investigation also found that own-brand budget ranges have become less available over the past two years.

Sue Davies, head of food policy and consumer insights at Which?, said eye-watering price rises , rising shrinkflation and limited availability of all-important budget ranges are combining to put huge pressure on household shopping budgets.

“During an unrelenting cost of living crisis, consumers should be able to easily choose the best value product for them without worrying about shrinkflation or whether their local store stocks budget ranges," Davies said.

The Office for National Statistics this week reported food and drink prices were up by an average of 6 percent year on year, but some everyday products, including milk and pasta, had increased by more than 10 percent.

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Independent retailers are demanding tougher police action, more bobbies on the beat and harsher punishments as shoplifting levels reach an all-time high, a new survey reveals.

A whopping ninety-one per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) called for more police patrols on streets, while a similar number - 90 per cent - said that shoplifters should be handed harsher sentences.

Seven out of 10 respondents (72 per cent) said their stores had experienced shoplifting, break ins and damage to property, while they and their staff had been physically or verbally threatened.

Just under half of respondents (47 per cent) said they and their employees had been threatened or had suffered abuse and violence when asking for proof of age ahead of selling an age-restricted product.

Forty-four per cent reported that they and their staff had faced abuse or violence because they had refused to make a proxy sale – selling an age restricted product to a customer buying for a minor.

The results of the Fed’s survey came as new figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed that shoplifting was at a record high, with almost half a million offences recorded last year.

According to the ONS, 469,788 offences were logged by forces in the year to June 2024 – a 29 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

The ONS added that this figure was the highest since records began – in March 2003.

“Inadequate responses from the police and a slap on the wrist for offenders means that shoplifting is soaring, and offenders are becoming more aggressive and brazen,” said Fed National President Mo Razzaq.

“From the responses we received, it is clear that real action is needed by police, by courts and by the government to stem the overwhelming tide of crime against retailers and their staff. Everyone deserves to feel safe at work and for their businesses to be protected against criminals.

“Fed members are also sending a clear message that one of the catalysts for verbal and physical abuse in stores is asking for proof of age before selling an age restricted product. If the government presses ahead with its plans to phase out smoking and vaping through a progressive ban to gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the country, independent retailers will be subject to even greater levels of violence, abuse and theft.”

Calling for action from the government and not just words, Mr Razzaq continued: “Without effective deterrent, criminals and opportunistic members of the public will continue to commit crimes.”

According to Ministry of Justice statistics, during the year to March 2024, 431 fines were handed out for retail theft under £100, while Home Office statistics for the same period show that 2,252 cautions were accepted for shoplifting.