Aldi has been crowned the cheapest supermarket in the UK for November, according to the latest analysis by Which?, offering some relief to households still grappling with stubborn inflation.
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The consumer group found that a basket of 70 everyday items cost an average of £121.22 at Aldi over the course of the month. Lidl, which held the top spot in October, followed closely behind, with the same basket costing £122.35 for loyalty card holders or £122.40 without membership. Asda ranked third, pricing the items at £133.59, while Tesco shoppers spent £133.65 with a Clubcard or £136.20 without one. Sainsbury’s offered the basket at £137.77 for Nectar card users, rising to £141.62 for those without a loyalty card.
At the other end of the scale, Waitrose was once again the priciest supermarket, with the basket totalling £166.79 — a difference of £45.57 compared with Aldi.
Which? conducts its monthly comparison by analysing the average cost of a selection of branded and own-label goods across eight major UK supermarkets. The 70-item list includes staples such as Hovis bread, milk, butter and Birds Eye peas.
Larger shops reveal bigger differences
For a more extensive 183-item shop, Asda emerged as the most affordable option. This bigger trolley came in at £455.52 in November — £9.71 cheaper than Tesco’s Clubcard price of £465.23.
Aldi and Lidl were not included in the larger comparison, as their product ranges are more limited. Once again, Waitrose topped the price chart, with the same 183-item shop costing £522.91, a substantial £67.39 more than Asda’s offering. The analysis factored in loyalty discounts and special offers but did not include multibuy promotions.
Inflation still hitting households
Despite inflation falling to 3.6% in October — down from 3.8% in September — it remains well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Data from the British Retail Consortium and NielsenIQ showed that overall shop price inflation slowed to 0.6% in November, with food inflation at 3%, lower than the 3.7% recorded the previous month. Even with easing price growth, Which? warns that many shoppers continue to face significant cost-of-living pressures.
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Reena Sewraz, retail editor at Which?, said:
“While Aldi is the cheapest supermarket this month, the close competition from the discounters means Lidl is also an excellent money-saving choice. The larger grocery comparison shows that Asda remains one of the UK’s most affordable supermarkets for those who prefer a broader range of branded products.
“With Christmas only weeks away, food costs will be front of mind for many families — and our research shows that choosing the right supermarket could cut your bill by as much as 27%.”
