Australians are feeling the pinch at the checkout, and recent data suggests grocery prices are poised to climb even higher. With some families already grappling with weekly bills approaching $300, it’s clear the cost of living is becoming a pressing concern for many.

According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), national inflation has risen to 4.6 percent. This spike is making it increasingly difficult for consumers to manage their grocery budgets.

When home brands aren’t cheap anymore

Traditionally, families have turned to home-brand products as a cost-saving measure. However, the current economic climate is eroding this strategy. The recent index reveals that even budget-friendly items are no longer the bargain they once were.

The price hike in generic products is particularly stark. A basket filled exclusively with budget items, which cost $297.95 in March 2026, now surpasses the index’s original baseline of $273.82 from January 2024. This means shoppers are shelling out $24 more today for the cheapest versions of their groceries than they would have for a standard basket two years ago.

For those relying on convenience, the financial squeeze is more pronounced. For instance, a 2-liter bottle of milk priced at $3.55 at a standard Woolworths store jumps to $4.00 at a Woolworths Metro location, illustrating the growing disparity in costs depending on where you shop.

The squeeze is even tighter for those relying on convenience. Gibson found that a 2L bottle of milk selling for $3.55 at a regular Woolworths can cost $4.00 at a Woolworths Metro store.

Although the frantic price jumps of 2024 have subsided, this week’s inflation data confirms that prices won’t be dropping back to “normal” anytime soon. Gibson also warned that prices are unlikely to drop once the market settles.

“It never goes down, it just stays the same or goes up more steeply. That’s our experience in the past,” he said. “In the short term, we are going to unfortunately see big grocery price increases.”

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