Inflation in Britain is rising again: which products have become the most expensive.

According to The Sun: Consumers are feeling mounting pressure on their budgets: food and drink prices have been rising for the fifth consecutive month, reaching a new 20-month high.

Although the overall inflation rate in the UK remained at 3.8% in August, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 5.1%.

This inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages is the highest since January 2024, when prices increased by 7% compared to the previous year.

The cost of a basket of goods that was £100 a year ago now costs £105.10. This creates difficulties for households as essential items become more expensive.

Which items are becoming the most expensive?

Prices for beef and veal have risen by 24.9%, while pork has increased by 8.2%.

Dairy products have also significantly increased in price: butter prices rose by 18.9% and milk by 12.6%.

Even treats have become more expensive: coffee and chocolate prices have increased by 15.4%.

However, not all products are becoming more expensive; some staple foods have decreased in price over the past year.

The price of olive oil has fallen by 12.5%.

Flour, pasta, and rice have also become slightly cheaper, with decreases of 5.9%, 2.8%, and 2.2% respectively.

Other living expenses

Prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco products have also increased, rising by 5.9% over the year to August.

Tobacco consumers have felt the most significant burden: cigarette prices have increased by 7.3% and other tobacco products by 10.4%.

Those who enjoy a drink are also not immune: prices for beer and spirits have risen by 4.8%, and prices for wine by 3.7%.

Representatives from the British Retail Consortium claim that rising prices are caused by higher wages, increased national insurance contributions, and new packaging taxes that have impacted retailers' and suppliers' costs.

Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, Karen Betts, noted:

“There are still significant pressures on prices for coffee, cocoa, olive oil, and dairy products, but otherwise, the continued rise is explained by regulatory and tax costs.”

However, Treasury Secretary James Murray rejected accusations that government policies have led to rising prices in supermarkets, placing the blame on global market influences.

He stated:

“The key factor in the context of food prices is prices on global commodity markets, not higher national insurance contributions.”

Will food prices continue to rise?

Economists believe that both CPI and food inflation are likely to continue to rise but are approaching their peak.

Rob Wood, the Chief Economist of the UK at Pantheon Macroeconomics, predicts that CPI will peak at 4% in September, followed by a gradual decline.

Officials believe that

“the adjusted figure for September is likely to be the peak of CPI inflation”

, and after that, the overall rate should start to slowly decrease.

Despite the high inflation, the Bank of England is unlikely to change interest rates at 4% this week.

How to save on grocery shopping

Chief Consumer Reporter James Flanders reveals how to save hundreds of pounds a year:

Unusual boxes – many retailers offer slightly misshapen fruits and vegetables or excess food at reduced prices.

Lidl sells five kilograms of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50 as part of its Waste Not program, while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go packages containing £10 worth of products for just £3.30.

Sainsbury’s also offers fruit and vegetable boxes for £2 under the “Try me, don’t throw me” program, to help consumers reduce food waste and save money.

Waste-fighting apps – these apps help shops, cafes, restaurants, and other businesses sell stock that is nearing expiration, offering it to citizens.

Some of the most notable include Too Good to Go and Olio.

The Too Good to Go app is free to register for and is used by millions of people across the UK, enabling them to buy food at a discount.

Olio works similarly, alerting people about the chance to collect food and other household items for free from neighbors and businesses.

Yellow sticker discounts – yellow stickers, sometimes orange and red in some supermarkets, are a great way to buy food at a discount.

The optimal time to visit depends on the retailer, so it makes sense to check when the best times are to go for discounts.

Super discounts – join Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, where shoppers regularly share information about the discounts they find, including on groceries.

“Gradual reduction” – it’s usually more cost-effective to choose supermarket own-brand economy products instead of premium brands.

Switching to less expensive brands, also known as the “gradual reduction”, can save you hundreds of pounds a year on shopping.

Which supermarket is the cheapest for groceries?

According to the latest analysis by experts, Aldi has been recognized as the cheapest supermarket in August.

This came after the German discounter lost its lead in July to rival Lidl for the first time in 20 months.

The analysis showed that the difference between the two discounters in August was just 43 pence.

A basket of 75 items in Aldi cost an average of £127.92, compared to £128.35 in Lidl.

Customers who use the Lidl Plus loyalty program could save an additional 5 pence (average price — £128.30).

The list of 75 items included both branded and own-label products, such as Birds Eye Peas, Hovis bread, milk, and butter.

Asda came in third with the cost of goods: a basket of 75 products cost £139.42.

Customers at Tesco would pay £142.36, and those without a club card would pay £145.01.

Customers at Sainsbury’s would pay £144.75 with a Nectar card or £149.02 without one.

Shopping at Morrisons would cost £147.20 with a More card or £147.84 without one.

The Waitrose supermarket remained the most expensive: a grocery basket cost an average of £172.61 — £44.69 (35%) more than at Aldi.

This is also more expensive than the online supermarket Ocado, which offered the same basket for £159.79.

How to compare prices for the best deal

Just because an item's price is marked down doesn't always guarantee a bargain.

There are many price comparison sites that can help you avoid overpaying.

Most analyze prices across hundreds of retailers.

Here are a few we recommend:

• Google Shopping — a tool that allows you to search and compare prices on products online. Just enter keywords or a product number to get results.

• Price Spy shows the price history of items from over 3,000 retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay, and supermarkets. You can quickly check where the lowest price is and which store has the item you need.

• Idealo — another well-known price comparison site among retailers. Enter the item you want, and the site will sort options from cheapest to most expensive.

• CamelCamelCamel works only with Amazon products. For this, enter the URL of the item whose price you want to check.