The sharp increase in fuel prices - leading to expectations of higher inflation and the possibility of interest rates staying higher for longer - will force most households to relook their monthly budgets. This includes buying food, especially if higher transport costs reverse the slowing in food inflation in recent months.
One way of taming the food bill is to look at retailers house brands, which sometimes offer significant savings compared to the usual branded products.
A quick look at a selection of house brands at the bigger supermarkets shows that a house brand is some 20 cheaper than a branded product. In some cases, they are as much as 50 cheaper.
