UK supermarket ranked one of cheapest a year ago is now the most expensive – here’s how much essentials cost

THE UK supermarket that was ranked as one of the cheapest just one year ago is now the most expensive, it's been revealed.

Last year, Asda was named the third cheapest out of major retailers - just trailing behind budget competitors Lidl and Aldi.

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But now, price tracking analysis of eight essential goods by the (MEN) revealed that all but one of the big brands' prices had increased by 25% or more since 2022.

They measured the cost of a basket of basic items like salted butter, beef mince and a loaf of white bread.

And Asda topped the list with a staggering 32.4% increase, raising their essentials basket from £9.44 to £12.50.

Aldi had the second largest price hike with a 31.4% increase, followed by Lidl and Tesco with 30% and Morrisons with 25%.

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Sainsbury's has seen the lowest increase, still a hefty 17.8%, but started out as the most expensive beforehand.

In terms of overall price, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's make up the top three, while Lidl comes out cheapest.

The budget store offers the essentials basket for £11.88, compared to Asda's £12.50.

That's compared to £9.14 and £9.44 respectively just one year ago.

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Spiralling inflation has sent prices soaring, but the resulting cost of living crisis means that families are hit hard by the basics going up by so much.

An Asda spokesperson told the MEN: "We launched the Just Essentials By Asda range last year to provide customers with the option of getting all of their weekly essentials from the same low-cost brand range in all of our stores nationwide.

"We’re working hard to keep prices in check for customers despite global inflationary pressures and we remain the lowest-priced major supermarket – a position recognised by Which? in their regular monthly basket comparison which has named Asda as the cheapest supermarket for a big shop every month for the last three years.

"Last month we announced we would be freezing the prices of over 500 popular branded and own-label products, more than half of which are fresh meat, dairy, fruit and vegetable products until the end of May."