Most supermarket rivals have put prices back up this yearRory Poulter07:01, 25 Jul 2026Shoppers are finally getting some relief at the checkout – and one supermarket is leading the charge.‌German discount giant Aldi is now the only one of Britain's six biggest supermarkets where the average grocery prices are actually falling, while every major rival has put prices back up this year. The figures, revealed by The Grocer magazine using Worldpanel data, suggest that Aldi's aggressive price-cutting campaign is helping to keep a lid on food bills across the high street.‌That is because Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons all operate Aldi price-match schemes on hundreds of everyday items, forcing them to limit increases if they want to maintain their value credentials.‌The new evidence comes just days after official inflation figures showed food price inflation had eased to 1.7% in June – the lowest level since August 2024 – helping pull overall inflation lower. The Office for National Statistics said food made one of the biggest downward contributions to inflation last month.New Worldpanel data obtained by The Grocer shows Aldi's average price per grocery unit has fallen for three consecutive quarters. Average prices dropped from £1.63 in the final quarter of 2025 to £1.59 in the first quarter of this year, before slipping again to £1.57 in the second quarter. By contrast, every other major supermarket has seen prices edge upwards over the same period.‌The average unit price at Tesco rose from £2.09 to £2.12, Sainsbury's from £2.18 to £2.25, Morrisons from £2.11 to £2.14, Asda from £2.01 to £2.05, while Lidl increased from £1.72 to £1.74.Industry experts caution that the figures are not a direct comparison of which supermarket is cheapest because they do not account for different pack sizes, promotions or the mix of branded and own-label products shoppers buy.However, they do provide a clear indication of which retailers are pushing prices higher – and which are pushing them down. Aldi has been investing heavily in lower prices, spending £60million cutting the cost of summer essentials earlier this year while launching advertising under the slogan: "No cards, no points, no faff."‌Unlike many rivals, shoppers do not need a loyalty card to access its cheapest prices. The retailer has also boosted efficiency after opening what it says is Britain's largest food distribution centre in Leicestershire, allowing it to reduce operating costs while continuing to compete aggressively on price.Although Aldi's market share has edged down slightly from 11% to 10.8%, it continues to attract shoppers through value, with volume sales still growing despite fierce competition from Lidl. The latest figures underline how important Aldi has become in shaping prices across the supermarket sector.Article continues belowWith Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons all promising to match Aldi on hundreds of everyday products, the discounter's pricing decisions increasingly ripple across the wider grocery market. For shoppers, that means Aldi's determination to keep cutting prices could continue to restrain food bills even when inflationary pressures return.The improvement comes after years of painful grocery inflation that left many households paying dramatically more for their weekly shop. While prices remain far above pre-cost-of-living crisis levels, the pace of increases has slowed markedly in recent months, offering some welcome relief for stretched family budgets.