The OCU 2026 report reveals a 39.5% surge in food costs since 2021, with coffee and eggs seeing the most dramatic price increases.

Mainland and Anchor are set to go to a French company as farmers get a big pay day.

Annual supermarket analysis reveals fresh food prices rose 4.7% while savvy shoppers can save up to 1,310 euros by switching retailers.

A £25 basket of supermarket essentials that cost £25.04 in September 2020 now costs nearly £38, representing a 50.2% increase over six years, according to exclusive analysis by This is Money and the Daily Mail. The data, sourced from Assosia, a UK retail research agency, tracks average pre-promotion prices across major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons. Minced beef has seen the largest price hike, rising from £2.81 to £5.08 for a 500g pack, while olive oil increased by £2.04, milk chocolate by £1.25, and chicken thighs by £1.24. Other significant increases include free range eggs (91p), mature cheddar (86p), pink lady apples (52p), and salted crisps (49p). The largest price jump occurred between 2021 and 2022, when the basket cost rose from £24.55 to £30.87. Retail experts attribute the increases to systemic supply chain pressures including higher energy costs, import frictions, agricultural labour shortages, extreme weather disrupting crop yields, new packaging tax, and business rates. Jonathan de Mello, a retail expert, stated that 'grocery prices will never fall back to 2020 levels' and that the best outcome would be price stabilisation. The British Retail Consortium highlighted rising non-commodity costs, employment costs, and volatile weather patterns as key factors. The National Farmers Union reported that farmers are facing a financial crisis due to the worst drought in 50 years, increased production costs from the Middle East war, and a spreading disease called bluetongue affecting livestock. The NFU also noted that UK self-sufficiency in indigenous foods has fallen from 87% in 1995 to 72% in 2025, with reliance on imported food growing. Despite these challenges, supermarkets continue to absorb costs where possible, though sustained increases are making this increasingly difficult. The analysis shows that while some items like Digestive biscuits, baked beans, and tea bags have seen minimal price changes, core staples and proteins have experienced significant percentage increases that directly impact household budgets.