There may not be much change in prices at big supermarkets, but exploring offers at smaller stores can be worthwhile
In the seven weeks since we compared the prices of branded bread, washing-up liquid, tea, coffee and milk in five grocers, there have been some changes.
The price of 320ml of Fairy Liquid at Mace stores in Northern Ireland has climbed from £1.20 to £1.45, a rise of 21%.
However, it’s remained steady at Tesco and Sainsbury’s, where it’s been £1 for as long as we’ve been running Price Watch.
But not all supermarkets are offering Fairy Liquid at knock-down prices. In Dunnes, which has a significant presence in NI, it costs £1.49 for 320ml, while at convenience retailer Co-op, 320ml of Fairy Liquid is £1.35 (or £2 for two).
Co-op offers a good deal for Nescafé Gold Blend Instant Coffee if you’re prepared to buy in bulk. The regular convenience-store Gold Blend size of 95g was out of stock when we visited, but the retailer is offering a 200g jar for £6.25 (or £5.75 for Co-op members). That’s instead of a standard price of £6.95.
Even that standard-price offer for the 200g jar is better value than the Tesco 100g jar at £3.45.
And it’s a much more appealing price tag than the £8.60 charged for a 200g jar of Gold Blend at Dunnes Stores. That price works out more expensive than the £3.99 price tag at Mace for a 95g jar.
But, as is always the case, buying in bulk doesn’t suit everyone, and many of us would find it hard to empty a 200g jar of instant coffee.
Co-op members can also avail of lower-cost milk, with two litres costing members £1.60 instead of the usual price of £1.75.
But Sainsbury’s and Tesco remain the joint-cheapest for milk, at £1.55 for two litres.
Overall, we’ve all unfortunately had to get used to paying more for groceries since the cost-of-living crisis.
And even though Consumer Prices Inflation (CPI) has been falling from its record high of 11.1% in October 2022, with a 2.2% rate in the year to July, prices are still rising — and we are still feeling it.
According to grocery information company Kantar, grocery inflation in Northern Ireland stood at 6.65% last month, making August the 11th consecutive month of inflation decline to levels last seen in October 2022.
According to Kantar, the backdrop of still-high inflation means grocers are being extra-competitive with one another.
It said retailers were continuing to push their own-label lines and promotions to attract shoppers through the door.
But own-label products are growing just behind the total market at 5.1% year-on-year, with shoppers spending an additional £89.6m on own-brand ranges compared to last year.
Brands grew slightly ahead of the market at 6.5% year-on-year and hold a 54.5% share of the market by value. More than 22% of sales were made through a promotional offer, a level not seen since October 2020.
And it’s definitely worth shopping around to find those promos, as we’ve discovered this week.