Several supermarkets, including , Morrisons and have increased the price of eggs by as much as 7 per cent in a month, and in the last year by 22 per cent.
Although inflation has come down in the last two years, meeting the Government’s two per cent target in September, it appears to be rising again having jumped to 2.3 per cent in October.
Amy Knight, expert at NerdWallet UK said food inflation had slowed in 2024 but shoppers were still reeling from last year’s hike in the price of weekly essential.
Amy said that with more people home baking as we head into the holiday season, extra demand for eggs will likely push the price of eggs up further.
She said: “The rise was the likes of which we’ve not seen since the 1970s and has created a lingering financial burden for many families.”
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There is good news for bread lovers, with the cost defying the hike in other basket staples.
She added: “Bread has fallen in price over the past year as the cost of raw ingredients, such as wheat, has come down. Energy prices have also eased, reducing production costs, enabling some retailers to lower prices on the shelves.
“Tesco recently reduced the price of its Toastie White Thick White Loaf from 85p to 75p.”
One group of foodies who will be paying more for food this Christmas is vegetarians, according to the expert.
Knight said the increasing cost of meat had been behind a trend toward eating a cheaper, flexitarian diet. However, meat substitutes are now costing more than the real deal.
Meat-free products are on average 55p more expensive per kilogram than meat, fish and poultry (MFP) versions, as she claimed: “At Ocado, Moving Mountains vegan burgers cost £4 for a pack of 2, compared with £2.85 for a pack of four beef burgers.”
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How to save money on the weekly shop
Knight has the following purse-friendly tips for shoppers.
“Bread products are freezable, so if you find one of your favourite products on offer, consider buying extra and freezing it for future use. Just remember that if you’re working on a tight budget, buying more than you need can mean you use up your available cash more quickly, so check you’ve got enough for all of this week’s essentials before stocking up for the following week.”
She also recommended saving money on plant-based alternatives by using natural plant-based foods, such as dry lentils and tinned chickpeas, to bulk out your meals. “Not only are theycheaper and healthier than meat-free alternatives, as they are much less processed.”
If you are a vegetarian who eats eggs then consider switching to the supermarket’s own version to save money, and remember to use your loyalty card to take advantage of discounts. “At Sainsbury’s 10 Happy Eggs are 30p cheaper with a Nectar card, costing £3.50 instead of £3.80. However, their Stamford Street own-brand eggs cost just £1.73 for 10.”
“Use comparison websites like to compare the weight of items, not just the price and check how many items are in a multipack before heading to the checkout.”
The UK Vegetarian Society has launched a charity Christmas fund raising campaign to address the shortage of vegetarian and vegan options for those in food poverty.
It has promised to providing 125+ veggie/vegan Christmas dinners by partnering with local community centres.
You can donate via the