It means we cannot afford to relax when shopping for food. We need to take time to check and compare prices.

Retailers should tell us the price per gram, capsule or ml but the shelf labels that are supposed to give us this information are often missing or difficult to compare. Boxes of washing capsules may be priced per capsule or per kg. You need to compare.

But as a quick rule of thumb: The products at eye height tend not to be the best value. Those may be at ankle height. And no longer is the biggest box the best value. It is often cheaper to buy three small containers than one big one.

Make sure you check the number of capsules or tablets in the pack as the manufacturers appear to want to confuse us by providing small quantities in big containers.

It has never been more difficult to compare prices as retailers have different prices on the shelves and on offer to customers via their loyalty apps such as Nectar cards and Tesco club cards.

I get Lindsay prices from Nectar. Last week I was told that I could get a four pack of kitchen roll for £5.75 after months of seeing it for sale for over £8. Unfortunately there was none on the shelf.

You also need to check that you get the “special price” the apps can glitch leaving you with a higher price than expected.
The big stores match the prices at Lidl and Aldi, the discounters, for some products. But the best way to save money is to go to the cheapest supermarket unless it involves you in a long journey.
 
Aldi was named the UK’s cheapest supermarket, in January for the eighth month in a row according to research by consumer group Which? Shoppers can save £25.68 compared to the most expensive supermarket, for an equivalent basket of items.
 
Aldi was £11.77 cheaper than Tesco and £13.62 cheaper than Sainsbury’s per basket. Aldi cost £82.03, Lidl £84.07, Tesco £93.80, Sainsbury £95.65, Morrisons £96.58,Ocado £100.87 and Waitrose £107.71.