There is good news for shoppers as surveys of supermarket prices has shown a dip in prices at six out of seven supermarkets over the past month. We have also carried out our own survey comparing prices at seven of the biggest supermarkets with the same time last year.

The WalesOnline survey found that prices at three supermarkets - Lidl, Aldi and Tesco - dropped. The biggest rise in the seven staple products that we bought in February 2023 and again in February 2024 was £1.37 at Morrisons.

The cheapest basket of goods was at Aldi (£10.05) which was 5p cheaper that the basket at Lidl. The most expensive basket was £12.50 at M&S, which was 14p more expensive that the basket from Morrisons. Compared to last year the basket went down 39p at Lidl, 14p at Aldi and 40p at Tesco.

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They went up 70p at M&S, 76p at Asda, £1.71 at Sainsburys and £1.37 at Morrisons.

The biggest difference was the change between 2022 and 2024, which some prices raised by as much as £3.10 (Sainsburys) and £1.50 at Aldi.

The items in our basket are:

  • Two pints of semi-skimmed milk (whatever brand the store has to offer as there is usually only one).
  • A box of six free range eggs (the cheapest they have on offer at the time as there is no uniform brand).
  • Pack of mature cheddar cheese (Cathedral City at the places were it is sold and comparable at the others).
  • 500g of spaghetti (the cheapest brand the store has to offer as there is no uniform brand across the shops).
  • One loaf of thick-cut white sliced bread (Brace's bread at every store apart from M&S where they only sell their own brand).
  • Six Braeburn apples (the stores normally only have one brand of the apples).
  • A pack of breakfast wheat cereal (Weetabix or own brand at Aldi and M&S).

    • Sara Jones, of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said that results are not a surprise as retailers pass on cost savings. She says: "Following the energy price shock sparked by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, food inflation in the UK soared by almost 20% at its height, back in March of 2023. Since then, it has steadily been coming down, now finally back into single-digits as retailers pass on cost savings further up the supply-chain. Nonetheless, food price levels remain high and mounting cost burdens in labour, taxes and food imports raise the risk of inflation lingering for longer."

    Here are the basket comparisons:

    1. Aldi

    Six free range eggs - £1.35

    Mature cheddar - £2.49

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 28p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.35

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.39

    Breakfast cereal - £1.99

    2024 TOTAL: £10.05

    2023 TOTAL: £10.19

    2022 TOTAL: £8.46

    2. Lidl

    Six free range eggs - £1.35

    Mature cheddar - £2.49

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 28p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.40

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.39

    Breakfast cereal - £1.99

    2024 TOTAL: £10.10

    2023 TOTAL: £10.49

    2024 TOTAL: £9.19

    3. Tesco

    Six free range eggs - £1.50

    Mature cheddar - £2.99

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 28p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.35

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.70

    Breakfast cereal - £1.99

    2024 TOTAL: £11.01

    2023 TOTAL: £11.42

    2024 TOTAL: £8.90

    4. Asda

    Six free range eggs - £1.50

    Mature cheddar - £3

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 75p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.35

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.49

    Breakfast cereal - £1.95

    2024 TOTAL: £11.24

    2023 TOTAL: £10.48

    2022 TOTAL: £8.94

    5. Sainsburys

    Six free range eggs - £1.50

    Mature cheddar - £3.50

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 75p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.35

    Six Braeburn apples -£1.70

    Breakfast cereal - £2

    2024 TOTAL: £12

    2023 TOTAL: £11.71

    2022 TOTAL: £8.90


    6. Morrisons

    Six free range eggs - £1.50

    Mature cheddar - £3.50

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - 89p

    One loaf of white sliced bread - £1.49

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.79

    Breakfast cereal - £1.99

    2024 TOTAL: £12.36

    2023 TOTAL: £10.99

    2022 TOTAL: £10.35

    7. M&S

    Six free range eggs - £2.90

    Mature cheddar - £2.65

    Two pints of semi-skimmed - £1.20

    Spaghetti - £1.40

    One loaf of white sliced bread - 75p

    Six Braeburn apples - £1.70

    Breakfast cereal - £1.90

    2024 TOTAL: £12.50

    2023 TOTAL: £11.80

    2022 TOTAL: £10.30

    Meanwhile, the latest survey for Which? found that supermarket Aldi has been officially named the UK’s cheapest supermarket. Consumer group Which? conducted its monthly Cheapest Supermarket price comparison, looking at the cost of a basket of items, including groceries and household essentials. The latest research shows that throughout January Aldi was a huge £41.20 cheaper than the most expensive supermarket, Waitrose – for an equivalent basket of items.

    Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi, said: "As families cope with the aftermath of an expensive Christmas coupled with tough economic conditions, we know that January is an especially tricky month. Therefore, we’re proud to have maintained our position as Which? Cheapest Supermarket which demonstrates our continued commitment to providing our customers with high quality food at everyday low prices.’"

    The news comes after Which? also named Aldi the UK’s cheapest supermarket for 2023 last month. They revealed Aldi to be £24.26 cheaper than Sainsbury’s and £16.51 cheaper than Asda per basket.