This is bonkers. The Growers Selection range is the cheap stuff. A couple months ago 3 garlic bulbs were 50p. Now they’re the same price as organic?! Why’s that price rise not on the shoulders of those who CHOOSE more expensive produce rather than those who DON’T HAVE THE CHOICE.

For new followers, welcome, one of my fave but infuriating niche pastimes is tracking the price rises and disappearance of the absolute basic products in supermarkets while simultaneously stink-eyeing the luxury options that haven’t increased by a penny in the last few years.

A small lightbulb idea formulating but is it about keeping prices competitive for those who will and can routinely spend more per shop... that would make sense... if someone only has a strict £20 a week to spend then they’re only going to spend that £20, just get a bit less...

So I’ve been tracking this obsessively for a decade across several supermarkets and can tell you that some basic groceries have quadrupled in price (stock cubes were 10p in 2012, 39p in 2020) and most have vanished (437 basic items in one super in 2012, fewer than 100 in 2020)

But (and I’m sorry CB it’s not personal, just an illustration) Charlie Bighams lasagne ready meal was £7.50 in 2012, and is still £7.50 in 2021. M&S dine in for £10 ready meal has stayed at £10 for years while the absolute basics that people depend on have quadrupled in price.