It has been a week of intense pricing activity, but Asda again provided the cheapest basket, at £52.94. The retailer’s shop boasted 21 of the cheapest or joint-cheapest items, as well as five promotions.

There was just one price hike – on Walkers Crisps, which were up 12p. The retailer made five price cuts, however. Bananas were down 8p per kg, while Kellogg’s Corn Flakes were down 19p because of a new promotion. Pears were also down 40p per kg, Quorn Chicken-Style Pieces by 1p and Robinsons Whole Orange by 2p.

Tesco leapfrogged two places to second, with its £53.41 trolley just 47p more expensive than Asda’s. Its basket contained three items on promotion and 15 of the cheapest or joint-cheapest items. Bananas were reduced by 8p per kg, celery 10p and Marmite 1p. However, it made three large price hikes – cauliflower was up 21p per kg, Dairylea spread 15p and Dolmio Bolognese sauce 17p.

Morrisons remained in third place. The retailer upped the price of six items – cauliflower by 20p, celery by 4p, courgettes by 31p per kg, Dairylea Spread by 12p, and potatoes and Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Rosé by 29p per kg and £1.43 respectively after promotions ended. There were also two reductions – bananas were down 12p per kg and Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup 3p.

Sainsbury's dropped from second to fourth place, despite seven price cuts. Bananas were down 12p per kg, Birds Eye Garden Peas 1p, fruit scones 9p, Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Rosé by 1p, pears 39p per kg, Quorn Chicken-Style Pieces 4p and Birds Eye Simply Cod in Batter 24p because of a new promotion. The retailer made two hikes – increasing Heinz Cream of Tomato soup 7p and cauliflower 40p after a promotion ended.

Waitrose remained the most expensive, but its basket cost £4.16 more than Asda’s, compared with £11.29 last week. It upped the price of Walkers Crisps by 10p and mushrooms by 20p. Mince was down £1.94 per kg in a new promotion.