The cost of groceries have soared 5.8 per cent since the start of the year, according to a Verdict report.

The increase is based on a typical basket of 100 grocery items and has added about£514 million a month to the UK’s grocery bills.

Verdict consulting director Neil Saunders said: “For many, the price of the weekly food shop is the real measure of inflation – it’s what they react to when they make decisions about the household budget and what to spend on other things.”

The research also found that the price of fruit and vegetables has been subject to the most significant increase, up almost 16 per cent since the start of the year. Health and beauty products sold in grocery stores and ready meals are among the few products to have fallen in price.