To say 2006 has been a turbulent year for pricing at the top six supermarkets would be putting it mildly. Rising energy prices, feed costs, poor harvests, and lower yields of certain fresh fruit and vegetables have caused the rate of food price inflation to rocket by a pocket-busting 6.4% over the past 12 months.
Bread and, in particular, citrus fruits such as oranges have been hit with steep price rises, while premium ranges and value-added products also climbed in cost as the supply chain attempted to recoup dented margins.
Ironically, 2006 was also the year of the price war on so-called "iconic products" such as milk and bananas, sparked by Asda when the price of four pints of milk was cut from £1.16 to £1 and the price of a kg of bananas plummeted from 85p to 64p.
As the year draws to a close attention seems to be turning towards another product - parsnips. Prices for these Christmas dinner staples appeared more than a little unstable in this week's report.
While Asda and Sainsbury's were both still charging £1.88 for a kg, the price plummeted to £1.48 at Tesco and even lower at Morrisons to £1.09.
Morrisons was carrying a range of lower price points in this week's report and managed to claim The Grocer 33's cheapest shopping basket, a feat it has now achieved three times in the past six months.
A look at The Grocer 33's six-month review (overleaf) reveals just how competitive the retailer is becoming in terms of price.
This week's Morrisons mystery shopper spotted seven deals on the 33 items on our list, including two bogofs.
Tesco, which had eight promotions to its name on this week's list, came second on price, pipping Asda, which had just five deals this week, to the post by 28p.
Sainsbury's was in fourth place with its basket worth £39.94, while Somerfield and Waitrose were in fifth and six places with baskets worth £44.52 and £45.64 respectively.
Bread and, in particular, citrus fruits such as oranges have been hit with steep price rises, while premium ranges and value-added products also climbed in cost as the supply chain attempted to recoup dented margins.
Ironically, 2006 was also the year of the price war on so-called "iconic products" such as milk and bananas, sparked by Asda when the price of four pints of milk was cut from £1.16 to £1 and the price of a kg of bananas plummeted from 85p to 64p.
As the year draws to a close attention seems to be turning towards another product - parsnips. Prices for these Christmas dinner staples appeared more than a little unstable in this week's report.
While Asda and Sainsbury's were both still charging £1.88 for a kg, the price plummeted to £1.48 at Tesco and even lower at Morrisons to £1.09.
Morrisons was carrying a range of lower price points in this week's report and managed to claim The Grocer 33's cheapest shopping basket, a feat it has now achieved three times in the past six months.
A look at The Grocer 33's six-month review (overleaf) reveals just how competitive the retailer is becoming in terms of price.
This week's Morrisons mystery shopper spotted seven deals on the 33 items on our list, including two bogofs.
Tesco, which had eight promotions to its name on this week's list, came second on price, pipping Asda, which had just five deals this week, to the post by 28p.
Sainsbury's was in fourth place with its basket worth £39.94, while Somerfield and Waitrose were in fifth and six places with baskets worth £44.52 and £45.64 respectively.
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