YOU may think that there would be across the board increases in our shop at Sainsbury’s in Temple Cowley.

But the results may come as a surprise as just 24 of the 43 items, or 56 per cent, had gone up.

Basic items like bread, margarine, pasta and cheese have risen by as much as 89 per cent.

But milk has dropped from £1.46 to £1 and tomatoes from 99p to 72p and the 2014 shop was £1.65 cheaper than in 2007, when we paid £66.92.

Among the brands that fell in price were Innocent kids smoothies from £2.99 to £2 and Activia yoghurts from £2.58 to £1.85.

Sainsbury’s refused to comment.

We donated the food to Cowley’s Community Emergency Foodbank (CEF), where the results surprised users.

Cowley’s Kevin Wallington, 48, said: “It’s the stuff that matters that’s getting bumped up.

“Whoop-dee-do we get some cheaper stuff, but they’re ripping us off on other things.

“I have friends who work in supermarkets and they say they’re throwing away loads of meat every day.

“Why don’t they sell it at a reasonable price in the first place that people can afford?”

The former plumber, who lost his job after a work-related injury, said: “People like us, we can’t eat well.

“I like fresh vegetables, nice fruit, good fish, but I can’t afford that anymore.

“We’ve got to eat frozen or tinned food and it’s horrible.”

Mr Wallington, dad to three grown up children, has used CEF several times this year.

He said: “I don’t like coming here and begging for food. I’m a man, I should be able to put it on the table myself.”

Food bank bosses have said the rising cost of living is partly to blame for Oxford’s poorest not being able to feed themselves.

Jane Benyon, director of the food bank, which only accepts referrals, said: “Of course the cost of living makes a difference, there’s no question of that.

“Very often people are not managing to budget because they’ve got bills and they feel they should be the priority.

“Food banks are here to stay. They are not going anywhere.”

Bicester dairy farmer Ian Corner said he has been hit by falling prices said: “This year they’ve taken 4.5p off every litre, which is costing me £40,000 a year.

“For a small business like mine that’s the difference between doing okay and really struggling.”

The 52-year-old said: “Supermarkets only lower prices because of their price war and to get more people through the door.

“It’s nothing to do with people saving money. Milk is a basic, people would buy it whatever the price.”

 

 

Product 2007 price 2014 price Ryvita 53p £1 Crisps £1.03 £1.70 Quiche £1.48 £2.40   Kitkats £1 £1.60 Flora 69p £1 Hazelnut chocolate spread 98p £1.50 Grapes £1.38 £2 Penne 98p £1.40 Hovis 96p £1.35 Breaded ham £1.61 £2 Cheese £1.61 £2 Humous 74p 85p Apple juice 98p £1.10 Bacon £2.49 £2.60

 

 

 

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