The rival supermarkets have cut the price of milk in their stores, a sign that inflation could be easing.
Image source, Getty ImagesSainsbury’s has followed its rival Tesco in cutting the price of its milk.
The supermarket said it was reducing the price of its four-pint own brand bottle to £1.55 on Thursday, after Tesco did the same on Wednesday.
Unlike Tesco, who said it made the move because its costs for buying in milk had fallen, Sainsbury’s did not give a reason for its decision.
Both supermarkets regularly battle on food prices and face stiff competition from discounters Aldi and Lidl.
The move from Sainsbury’s and Tesco comes at a time when food inflation is at its highest level since 1978 and latest figures show that food prices increased 18.2% from February 2022 to February this year.
Milk alone has risen by 43% in price over the same period, one of many staples, including cheese and eggs, which have surged in cost and squeezed household budgets.
But some analysts have suggested that supermarkets reducing their prices is a possible sign that hikes in the cost of a weekly shop could be starting to ease.
As well as the four-pint bottles, Sainsbury’s has match Tesco’s move in cutting two pints by 5p to £1.25 and a single pint to 90p.
Sainsbury’s said with “costs going up, we are working hard to keep prices low, especially on the everyday essentials people buy the most”.
A spokesperson added: “Our customers can be confident that they will receive great deals when they shop with us and do not need to go anywhere else to get the best prices on their weekly shop.”
Both supermarkets said the reductions in price will not affect how much they pay farmers.
Meanwhile, Asda has announced a shake-up to its reduced items on sale.
Following a trial in 140 stores, Asda said it would now have price cuts on products twice a day, rather than three times previously, but that the markdowns would be greater than before.
Recent research revealed nine out of 10 shoppers reported feeling concerned about rising food prices, according to Barclays.
Around 62% said they were finding ways to reduce the cost of their weekly shop, a report showed.
Separately, Sainsbury’s has announced a major restructuring of how its logistics operations work, affecting around 7,000 staff throughout the country.
The company said that no one would lose their job or get moved to worse contractual terms.