‘Six eggs used to be £1’ – the reason daily necessities have become so much pricier

For years, many shoppers have purchased the same basic items week after week. It is a common observation that checkout totals have risen, even when customers have deliberately avoided indulging in non-essentials such as wine or sweets. However, the specific increase in the cost of staples like milk, bread, and eggs over recent years may still come as a shock. This analysis examines the extent of these price hikes, the underlying causes, and whether any specific parties are benefiting from the trend.

The surge in egg prices

According to market researchers Assosia, who analyzed average prices across major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons for the BBC, the cost of a standard box of six supermarket own-brand free-range eggs has nearly doubled. In 2022, consumers could purchase this item for £1; today, the same box costs £1.80.

This sharp increase was driven by the United Kingdom’s most severe avian flu outbreak between 2021 and 2023, which resulted in the culling of millions of hens. The resulting scarcity of laying hens, compounded by the expenses associated with keeping birds indoors under new restrictions, created significant supply shortages. Consequently, supermarkets implemented purchase limits per customer, while both producers and retailers raised prices to mitigate their financial losses.

Production costs for eggs are heavily influenced by the price of grain for feed, heating facilities, and logistics. With Ukraine serving as a primary grain supplier, costs escalated dramatically following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The conflict also triggered a rise in energy prices, a trend that is being exacerbated by the ongoing war in the Middle East. Despite these rising costs, demand for eggs remains robust, fueled by the popularity of high-protein diets.

Energy-intensive dairy costs

Milk prices have also climbed, rising from £1.29 for four pints of semi-skimmed milk in 2022 to £1.65 currently, based on Assosia’s data regarding supermarket budget ranges. The dairy sector is particularly vulnerable to energy fluctuations due to the high power requirements for milking, processing, and transportation. Therefore, the energy price spikes following the war in Ukraine significantly impacted the industry.

Although milk prices increased sharply at first, the rate of rise has moderated in recent years due to a global oversupply. However, the financial pressure on producers remains severe. Agricultural analysts at The Andersons Centre report that dairy farmers are receiving 25% less per litre of milk than before, with many operating at a loss.

Producer margins under pressure

While producers and farmers are responsible for stocking supermarkets with eggs, milk, and bread, their input costs have surged well beyond the general inflation rate over the past year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that the prices producers pay for materials and goods increased by 7.7% in the year leading to April, marking the largest jump in over three years.

In contrast, factory gate prices—the rates producers charge retailers and wholesalers—only increased by 4% during the same period. Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, explains that this discrepancy exists because contracts between producers and supermarkets are negotiated in advance. “Without a crystal ball nobody can know what is going to happen” to costs at the time contracts are signed, she notes.

Hewson adds that while farmers can request higher payments when contracts are up for renewal, they cannot typically adjust prices mid-contract even when energy or fuel costs skyrocket. Consequently, she states, “there will be a degree of some of these price increases, obviously, having to be swallowed by some of these producers.”

Bread prices stabilize post-Ukraine invasion

The cost of a standard loaf of medium slice white bread has risen from 65p in 2022 to an average of 74p in major supermarkets. Although Assosia does not track data for discounters like Aldi and Lidl, major supermarkets generally align their prices due to intense competition for customers.

The initial price hikes for bread, driven by rising wheat costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have now stabilized. However, The Andersons Centre warns that the conflict in the Middle East has reignited fears regarding global supply chains. Hewson describes the situation as a “perfect storm” of inc...

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-24 01:02:55 UTC