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The real cost of food in 2026 — what’s up, what’s down, and how local stalls compare with the big four.

Food prices · 6 May 2026

The real cost of supermarket bread

A £1.50 supermarket sliced loaf is 18% cheaper than two years ago. A £4 artisan sourdough is 12% more expensive. The headline is wrong — and the per-meal maths is closer than you’d think.

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