The Bank of England’s inflation calculator indicates goods and services cost around a quarter more
in 2025 than they did five years ago. But data from SIM-only mobile provider spusu reveals that
the prices of some iconic British staples have shot up by as much as 117 per cent since 2020.
The research reveals the widespread impact of inflation, with many everyday items that once left
shoppers with plenty of change from a fiver now costing significantly more.

Key findings
Grabbing a quick bite on the go has become noticeably pricier. Meal deal fans looking to get their
lunchtime fix now have to fork out an average of £4.18 — up from £3.55 in 2020. While an 18 per
cent rise might not sound too bad compared to some other price hikes, supermarkets have
introduced ‘luxury’ meal deals at even steeper prices, meaning premium sandwiches and snacks
have quietly disappeared from the standard £3-£4 offers.

Even for a simple snack, prices have crept up. A 45g packet of Walker’s Ready Salted crisps will now
set you back £1.10, compared to just 80p five years ago – a 38 per cent jump.
Fast food lovers aren’t faring much better. The price of a Big Mac has ballooned by 57 per cent,
jumping from £2.99 to £4.69. Over at Burger King, fans of the Whopper are shelling out £6.49 for the
burger alone – up from £4.49 in 2020, a 45 per cent increase.

And while the humble Freddo has long been the nation’s favourite inflation benchmark, the
chocolate frog has only hopped up in price by eleven per cent – making it one of the ‘better’ deals of
the past five years.

Catching up on the news has now become a pricier habit. Buying a midweek national newspaper
now costs an average of £1.89, up from £1.16 in 2020 – a staggering 63 per cent increase.

For those looking for a post-work pint, it’s a similar story. The average price of a pint has climbed
from £3.80 to £4.79 – a 26 per cent increase, making after-work drinks an even costlier affair.

Meanwhile, stamp collectors – and anyone who still posts letters – will have noticed a big difference.
A first-class stamp has skyrocketed by an eye-watering 117 per cent since 2020, making it the biggest
price jump of all the everyday essentials analysed.

Getting more for your money
The research was carried out by spusu, a mobile provider that is committed to offering good value
for money. spusu has frozen its prices throughout 2025 — unlike many major providers that
increased prices from April 1.

While the cost of everyday essentials continues to climb, spusu is proving that good value still exists,
having recently launched spusu 5, a £4.90 per month SIM-only deal including 5GB of data, unlimited
calls and texts and free EU roaming (up to 3GB).

"While overall inflation figures are useful, they only tell part of the story. Many of the most popular
everyday items have skyrocketed in price — with some more than doubling in just five years," said
Christian Banhans, managing director at spusu UK.

"As the costs of everyday items continues to soar, staying connected shouldn’t come with
unexpected price hikes. Unlike other mobile providers, we won’t catch customers out with mid-
contract increases or expensive exit fees. Our plans are simple, affordable and transparent. By
introducing options like spusu 5, we’re making sure everyone has access to reliable mobile service at
a fair price — proving that you can still get a great deal for under a fiver.

ENDS