The price of our basket of dairy items recorded its first rise since July last year, and it is now 2.3% more expensive than it was ten weeks ago.

However, it is still 8.2% cheaper than at this time last year, and at its second-lowest level since the survey began on January 4.

Own label Blue Stilton accounted for the greatest price change, recovering some of the last survey's price fall with the end of a special offer at one multiple.

Per kilogram, Blue Stilton came in at £5.44 on May 15, being 34p more expensive than it was in our dairy basket survey carried out on March 6.

But at that price it is still 22.6% cheaper than at this time last year, something that Stilton Cheese Makers' Association secretary Nigel White described as unsustainable and a serious problem.

"Demand for Stilton is price-inelastic. It is just not that type of product and price cuts really do nothing for the volumes that are sold.

"Retailers and manufacturers are both losing margins when they don't need to, without growing sales, which has an impact on the price they can pay farmers for milk, and also on reinvestment.

"Price promotions have a role to play, but these prices are not sustainable in the long term."

Milk followed its 1ppl rise in the last survey, its first price change for a year, by returning to its former level.

Free-range egg prices have remained static since being drawn into a price war commencing at the end of March between the four main retailers.