Supermarket receipt comparison paints grim picture for Aussies

Posted by
Check your BMI

It's no secret Australia is in the midst of a major cost of living crisis, with prices of groceries skyrocketing across the board and in almost all of the nation's supermarkets.

As homeowners are clobbered by rate rise after rate rise, and with no immediate relief in sight to the seemingly endless hike on our staples, 9news.com.au has taken to one of the country's major supermarkets to compare a grocery shop in 2022, with one from today.

The result? A bleak picture for Aussies at the checkout.

READ MORE: Recession now major risk in next 12 months, economist warns

paying for groceries at the supermarket

toonsbymoonlight

Last year, a basic list of household items – ranging from yoghurt, to tuna tins, fresh veggies and cleaning products – cost a little over $112.

In 2023, a shop made up of exactly the same products will now see shoppers spend a whopping $180, representing an increase of $68 – that is a 60 per cent rise.

Of the items, almost all increased in price, with a handful of supermarket brand staples remaining the same, and just one item having decreased – a two pack of lettuce.

Some cleaning products – a 900mL bottle of fabric softener, for example – more than doubled in price year on year.

Some sale prices from 2022 are not represented in the figures.

Shoppers who spoke to 9News outside of the supermarket said their weekly list was "noticeably more expensive".

"I don't know how much more expensive it can get," Mary, 56, said.

"We've tried to cut out some unnecessary buys in our house but even just a shop for the basics, cereal and things, is hundreds and hundreds of dollars."

While most items were notably more pricey, Mary conceded, she couldn't always "immediately tell what individual items were more" and "what stayed the same".

READ MORE: Inflation in Australia rises 6.8 per cent annually, defying expectations

Woman filling trolley with groceries

"Toiletry prices are just unreal," she added.

Kate, 32, said that: "even a small handful of items can cost, you know, like upwards of $70".

"I've always found supermarket shopping expensive but it's not like we can go without groceries," she said.

Supermarket shop in 2022 

  • 1 x extra virgin olive oil: $9
  • 3 x mixed berry Greek yoghurt pouch: $1.70 = $5.10
  • 3 x passionfruit Greek yoghurt pouch: $1.70 = $5.10
  • 4 x Caramel Greek yoghurt pouch: $1.70 = $6.80
  • 3 x strawberry Greek yoghurt pouch: $1.70 = $5.10
  • 1 x mixed berry yoghurt Greek yoghurt pouch: $2 
  • 1 x passionfruit Greek yoghurt pouch: $2
  • 1 x Caramel Greek yoghurt pouch: $2
  • 1 x strawberry Greek yoghurt pouch: $2
  • 1 x fabric Conditioner: $4.5
  • 1 x baby spinach packet $2
  • 1 x sundried Tomato Strips: $2.65
  • 1 x bottle of soy sauce: $2.50
  • 1 x bucket of laundry powder: $13
  • 2 x bunches of pak choy: $2.5 = $5
  • 1 x jar of green stuffed olives $1.95
  • 5 x mandarin imperial: $0.41 = 2.05
  • 6 x mandarin: $0.34 = $2.04
  • 4 x small tins of tuna in chili oil: $1.80 = $7.20
  • 4 x small tins of tuna lite chili: $1.80 = $7.20
  • 4 x small tins of tuna lite in oil: $1.80 = $7.20
  • 2 x spicy flavour Thai noodle soup: $1.10 = $2.20
  • 2 x Tom Yum Thai noodle soup: $1.10 = $2.20
  • 1 x packet cos hearts lettuce: $4
  • 1 x sliced mushroom punnet: $3
  • 1 x organic silverbeet: $5

TOTAL: $112.79

Supermarket shop in 2023 

  • 1 x extra virgin olive oil: $10.50
  • 4 x mixed berry Greek yoghurt pouch: $3 = $12
  • 4 x passionfruit Greek yoghurt pouch: $3 = $12
  • 5 x Caramel Greek yoghurt pouch: $3 = $15
  • 4 x strawberry Greek yoghurt pouch: $12
  • 1 x fabric Conditioner: $10
  • 1 x baby spinach packet $3
  • 1 x sundried Tomato Strips: $2.65
  • 1 x bottle of soy sauce: $2.65
  • 1 x bucket of laundry powder: $26
  • 2 x bunches of pak choy: $2.5 = $5
  • 1 x jar of green stuffed olives = $1.95
  • 11 x mandarin imperial: $0.34 = $3.74
  • 4 x small tins of tuna in chili oil: $4 = $16
  • 4 x small tins of tuna lite chili: $4 = $16
  • 4 x small tins of tuna lite in oil: $4 = $16
  • 2 x spicy flavour Thai noodle soup: $1.10 = $2.20
  • 2 x Tom Yum Thai noodle soup: $1.10 = $2.20
  • 1 x packet cos hearts lettuce: $3
  • 1 x sliced mushroom punnet: $3.80
  • 1 x organic silverbeet: $5

TOTAL: $180.70

Sign up here to receive our daily newsletters and breaking news alerts, sent straight to your inbox.