Over half of people in the UK are buying less food due to the cost-of-living crisis

With food prices rising by 19% in March compared to the same time last year, 51% of adults are buying less in the supermarket in a bid to keep their grocery bill down.

A survey from the Office for National Statistics also found 53% are opting for cheaper items, 26% are buying more long-life or tinned foods and 21% are eating products past their use-by date.

Worryingly, 16% of adults (one in six) are now classed as food insecure. That means they can’t afford enough food to lead a healthy life. Of those questioned, 14% said they were cutting down on portion sizes or skipping means altogether. And 17% reported feeling worried that their food would run out before they could afford to buy more.

How much have the basics gone up in price?

This is how much some of your supermarket essentials have risen in price since March 2022:

Food item	Price increase
Olive oil	49%
Sugar	42%
Milk	38%
Sauces and spices	34%
Cheese	34%
Eggs	32%
Frozen veg	30%
Pork	25%
Pasta	24%
Flour	23%
Butter	22%
Yoghurt	22%
Jam, marmalade and honey	21%
Ready meals	21%
Fresh veg	21%
Potatoes	20%
Bread and cereals	19%
Fresh fish	19%
Tea	19%
Poultry	18%
Crisps	18%
Pizza and quiche	17%
Margarine	16%
Coffee	16%
Beef	15%
Chocolate	15%
Fruit juice	12%
Beer	8%
Rolling tobacco	7%
Lamb	6%
Wine	5%
Cigarettes	4%

 If you’re struggling

If you’re worried about rising prices, we’ve put together some tips on how to cut the cost of your supermarket shop. And if the cost-of-living crisis means your income no longer covers your outgoings, get in touch to find out what help’s available. We’ve helped more than 1.5 million people in all sorts of situations and we might be able to help you.