The sensational headlines putting inflation at 15% keep coming but The Grocer can reveal which product categories are keeping the real cost of inflation at just 4%.

Based on the hundreds of prices tracked by The Grocer across 12 categories, a trolley of 150 groceries is only 4% pricier now than last April and many staple foods are actually cheaper. With wheat doubling in price, bakery products - including branded and own-label bread and cakes - rose 10% over 12 months. However, a white Hovis loaf is now only 96p across the big four - 3% cheaper than last year - and Mr Kipling apple pies are now 13% cheaper at 99p.

Dairy goods rose the highest at 13.4% and frozen jumped 10.4% - although Asda, Morrisons and Tesco have been selling McCain oven chips for 5% less than they did last year.

Wall's sausages and lamb chops dropped by 12.2% and 1.8% respectively to help keep inflation down on meat, fish and poultry products, although it still rose by 4.9% overall.

Poor weather and higher fuel costs pushed up the price of fresh produce in the last year, but the fruit and vegetables category is now just 3.8% dearer than last April. Carrots are 9% lower while lettuce and a 2kg sack of potatoes are 7% and 1% cheaper respectively.

There was more success in the biscuits, confectionery and snacks category, which is now only 1% more expensive, and items on the deli goods and dry grocery aisles remained relatively steady with increases of 2.7% and 2.3%. Household goods such as Heinz tomato ketchup and Tetley tea bags went down by 4.7% and 2.9%. There was good news for consumers in non food categories with health and beauty plummeting 6.7% in price and household products 2.3% lower. Fairy liquid is now a hefty 7% cheaper at 91p.

A retail analyst said competition on price between the big four supermarket chains was more intense than 12 months ago as there was not one weak performer among them. "There is also a broader political issue. The retailers would not want to be passing on inflation higher than 5% to shoppers. Any higher and they might get summoned to Downing Street," he added.