President Le Brie Visual V2

Asda dominates as inflation bites across baskets

Asda managed to keep the tightest lid on inflation as it eased to a second Grocer 33 pricing win in a row.

At £68.31 Asda came in just over a fiver cheaper than runner-up Sainsbury’s. In what was one of its most dominant recent outings, Asda offered the lowest price for 24 lines and was exclusively cheapest for 17.

Of these, nine were own label and fresh items while eight were branded products, including the Dolmio bolognese sauce and Président brie.

Compared to this time last year, Asda’s shopping bill was just 1.6% higher. Its rivals saw considerably more inflation. Waitrose was up 3.1% and Tesco 4.9%, while Sainsbury’s prices climbed 5.4% and our basket cost 6% more in Morrisons than a year ago. Comparable numbers for guest retailer Amazon were not available.

Sainsbury’s offered the lowest price for seven products and was exclusively cheapest for the Budweiser, cumberland sausages and wensleydale.

Amazon took third spot this week. At £74.92 it was £6.61 more expensive than Asda. The online giant offered the lowest price for eight products but none exclusively cheapest.

Tesco came in £7.85 more expensive than Asda at £76.16. However its Clubcard Prices initiative would have given loyalty scheme members an instant discount of £2.31. This would have taken its total down to £73.85 – good enough to pip Amazon for third but still £5.04 more expensive than Asda and 45p more expensive than Sainsbury’s.

Morrisons was exclusively cheapest for the courgettes, chicken thighs and Billington’s caster sugar. At £77.18 it was £8.87 more expensive than Asda.

Upmarket retailer Waitrose remains an outlier on pricing. It came in £14.61 more expensive than Asda at £82.92. None of its prices were exclusively cheapest and it only matched the lowest price for the Hula Hoops multipack.