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| Biscuits and chocolates take the 'shrinkflation' test | Biscuits and chocolates take the 'shrinkflation' test |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Many of the nation's favourite treats are getting smaller, but BBC research has found that some prices are falling too. | Many of the nation's favourite treats are getting smaller, but BBC research has found that some prices are falling too. |
| Chocoholics and biscuit-lovers have been outraged in recent years by news of so-called "shrinkflation". | Chocoholics and biscuit-lovers have been outraged in recent years by news of so-called "shrinkflation". |
| That is when food manufacturers reduce the weight of their products without shrinking the price. | That is when food manufacturers reduce the weight of their products without shrinking the price. |
| So with the traditional January detox over, and many Britons reaching for a sweet snack, we have looked at whether the customer always loses out. | So with the traditional January detox over, and many Britons reaching for a sweet snack, we have looked at whether the customer always loses out. |
| We analysed 19 products and averaged prices over the last four years from high street chains Asda, Ocado/Waitrose, Sainsburys and Tesco. The figures reveal that 18 of the 19 products have been slimmed down. | We analysed 19 products and averaged prices over the last four years from high street chains Asda, Ocado/Waitrose, Sainsburys and Tesco. The figures reveal that 18 of the 19 products have been slimmed down. |
| Five products hit by shrinkflation | Five products hit by shrinkflation |
| Jaffa quake as McVitie's cuts pack sizes | Jaffa quake as McVitie's cuts pack sizes |
| More than 2,500 products subject to shrinkflation, says ONS | More than 2,500 products subject to shrinkflation, says ONS |
| Manufacturers often blame the rising cost of ingredients. | Manufacturers often blame the rising cost of ingredients. |
| Mondelez International, which makes Toblerone, said it had carried the costs for "as long as possible" before deciding to make their triangles further apart. | Mondelez International, which makes Toblerone, said it had carried the costs for "as long as possible" before deciding to make their triangles further apart. |
| Nestle said it had reduced weights sometimes to reduce calories or bring manufacturing in different countries into line. | Nestle said it had reduced weights sometimes to reduce calories or bring manufacturing in different countries into line. |
| Others point to exchange rates, in other words how their buying power has been hit by falls in the value of the pound. | Others point to exchange rates, in other words how their buying power has been hit by falls in the value of the pound. |
| But whether it is the ingredients, exchange rates, or saving us from obesity and bad teeth, all manufacturers insist that they give customers value for money. | But whether it is the ingredients, exchange rates, or saving us from obesity and bad teeth, all manufacturers insist that they give customers value for money. |
| Which brings us on to price, where the results get much more surprising. | Which brings us on to price, where the results get much more surprising. |
| Our selection was almost evenly split between products which had gone up in price and those which had become cheaper. | Our selection was almost evenly split between products which had gone up in price and those which had become cheaper. |
| In total, nine of our 19 products had actually gone down in price, two by more than a fifth. | In total, nine of our 19 products had actually gone down in price, two by more than a fifth. |
| While price cuts for products are not always in proportion to size reductions - it is not the case that customers are being short-changed all the time. | While price cuts for products are not always in proportion to size reductions - it is not the case that customers are being short-changed all the time. |
| Manufacturers know that keeping their products affordable is important. | Manufacturers know that keeping their products affordable is important. |
| So while the "shrink" is overwhelming, the "flation" (raising prices by stealth) is happening... not quite so much. | So while the "shrink" is overwhelming, the "flation" (raising prices by stealth) is happening... not quite so much. |
| Produced by David Brown, Daniele Palumbo, Mark Bryson and Luke Keast. | Produced by David Brown, Daniele Palumbo, Mark Bryson and Luke Keast. |
| About the data: 19 popular products were selected for which there was consistent price and weight data over a four year period. Data supplied by Brand View. |