Pasta soars 40% and tomatoes up 30% in food prices squeeze

THE price of tinned tomatoes and pasta has soared as shoppers face rising costs for household staples, new research shows.

A basket of 15 food items typically bought by the average family in the supermarket – including fish fingers, carrots and lemons – rose by £1.32, or eight per cent, in just a year.

The study indicates the price of some food items is rising faster than the official rate of inflation, which rose 5.4 per cent in the year to December.

A 500g packet of dried pasta rose an average of 41 per cent to 72p, while the price of tinned tomatoes increased to 45p, up 29 per cent. The price of potatoes rose two per cent.

The cost of mild cheddar and carrots fell slightly according to the survey, conducted by Assosia for the BBC.

Separate data collected for The Grocer magazine reveals the price of half-a-dozen supermarket eggs rose six per cent to £1 in a year, and a loaf of Warburtons white bread rose nine per cent to £1.05.

The research will be unwelcome news for families facing a cost of living squeeze. Energy and internet bills are among a cluster of costs expected to rise sharply this year.

Tesco chairman John Allan last week warned ‘the worst is yet to come’ on rising food costs. McVitie’s has told customers to brace themselves for price hikes across its range, which includes Jaffa Cakes, Penguins and Hobnobs.

Catherine Shuttleworth of marketing specialist Savvy said consumers ‘are now really noticing the price rises, particularly on fresh meat, fruit and vegetables’. She advised consumers to buy items on promotion, bigger pack sizes, or to look for lower-priced alternatives such as ‘value’ ranges.

The BBC study found that the same 15 food products in discount ranges had fallen four per cent in price over the year.

Among the supermarkets, analysis for The Grocer shows prices are rising fastest at Morrisons: 6.7 per cent on average in a year. Prices at Waitrose rose second fastest.

Prices are rising slowest at Sainsbury’s, while Asda offers the cheapest shop at £59.51 for a sample of 33 goods.

Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The cost pressures are getting harder throughout the supply chain – labour shortages, HGV driver shortages, increasing wages, rising prices for commodities and energy. Everything is going up.’

He added: ‘Price rises are not supermarkets profiteering,’ adding that the chain was working ‘day and night’ to reduce the impact of rising costs.