3:37pm UK, Monday May 12, 2008

The average family is shelling out an extra £20 a week on food compared to a year ago, new figures have revealed.

180 supermarket shopping basket food shoppers

Filling basket is a pricier business

A basket of 24 common supermarket items such as tea bags, potatoes and pasta sauce costs 19.1% more than it did 12 months ago, according to a survey.

The research by MySupermarket.co.uk also showed costs have climbed at an alarming rate recently, with a 3.6% rise in the last month alone.

A family spending about £100 a week on groceries a year ago would now pay an extra £993 for the equivalent amount over a year, or £19.10 a week.

The supermarket price survey found Basmati rice is up more than 60% in 12 months from 90p for 1kg to £1.45.

Britain's biggest supplier, Tilda, has warned of a further rise of around 30% in the coming year.

A one-litre bottle of pure corn oil has doubled in price since May last year, while customers are paying nearly 50% more for a dozen medium free-range eggs.

Demand for basic agricultural goods has led to huge increases in global grain prices in recent months.

Those costs then pass on down the food chain to meat and dairy products as farmers pay more to feed livestock.

Johnny Stern, managing director of MySupermarket.co.uk, said: "Once again we're seeing increases in the price of the average family's food basket, in particular wheat and dairy-based products."