Your weekly shopping price watch

TWELVE months ago it was the most expensive supermarket for a basket of essentials, but now it's working out the cheapest of the lot.

- By EMMA GILL

For a three-month spell from the end of last September, it was Asda that was working out dearest of the main supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl.

At the time, the retailer was called out for charging almost 20 per cent more for chicken breasts than nearly every other supermarket.

But now, for the second week running, it's the cheapest of the lot in our weekly price comparison, which tracks the cost of eight basic grocery items including bread, butter, milk, beans, tea, coffee, chicken and mince.

It’s now the only supermarket selling mince for less than £3 for a 500g pack, with both Tesco and Sainsbury's charging £3.50.

It means its bill for the eight items - most of which are in its Just Essentials range - comes to £13.09.

The only product changing in price this week is chicken, with Lidl and Tesco dropping the price slightly and Morrisons putting its price back up.

Aldi remains in second place with a bill of £13.17, followed by Lidl at £13.20 and Morrisons at £13.65.

The reduction at Tesco means it's now second most expensive, with a bill of £13.77 and Sainsbury's regaining its position as the most expensive retailer, with a bill of £13.80.