Tesco Shopper's 1997 Receipt Goes Viral as People React to Food Price Increases

People are astonished by the cost of goods after discovering an old Tesco receipt from 1997. Weetabix costs only 65p ($82), mayonnaise is only 49p ($62), and cat food is only 48p, to name a few of the things. A mystery item with a price of £10.99 ($14) is also listed, however, even with this luxury buy, the total charge is only £27.26 ($34).

The cost of the shopping will only be £16.27 ($20) if the mystery item-which has been deleted from the receipt-had not been purchased.

Reddit user Steezme1234 posted about the receipt and claimed that they discovered the 26-year-old ticket from a Bury St Edmunds store after purchasing a cassette tape. People responded to the post by expressing shock at how expensive the things were, as reported by The Independent.

The Bank of England's inflation calculator estimates that the banknote would be worth £50.66 in today's money. The average weekly shop cost in the UK today is far more than this.

Aldi had the lowest average basket price of any store in July 2023, costing £71.22 ($90), followed by Tesco at £79.59 ($101) and Waitrose at £87.24 ($111). It happens at a time when inflation in the UK is at some of its greatest levels in years.

Additionally, supermarkets have been charged with "profiteering" by artificially inflating the cost of specific items. Bosses at supermarkets have refuted these allegations.

The affordability of products and services for households is impacted by high inflation. In 1997, inflation was only 3.14 percent, which was substantially lower than it is today.

High Grocery Prices in the UK

Grocery prices in the UK have been rising steadily in recent months, with some staples now costing significantly more than they did a year ago. The rising cost of food is putting a strain on household budgets and is a major concern for many people.

(Photo : by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
White clouds are blown across a blue sky above a branch of British supermarket chain Tesco in east London on April 13, 2023. - Britain's biggest retailer, supermarket group Tesco, reported Thursday, April 13, a halving of annual net profit as soaring inflation hiked costs and reduced the amount it sold.

There are a number of factors that are driving the increase in grocery prices in the UK, such as the cost of energy has been rising steadily in recent months, and this is having a knock-on effect on the cost of food production. Farmers and food manufacturers are having to pay more for energy, which is being passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Another one is the war in Ukraine has also had a significant impact on global food prices. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat and other cereals, and the war has disrupted the supply of these commodities. This has led to higher prices for wheat and other grains, which are used in many food products.

The rising cost of food is a major concern for many people in the UK. It is putting a strain on household budgets, and is making it more difficult for people to afford to eat healthy food. The government has said that it is aware of the issue, and is working to find ways to address it.