'I tried to buy a £27 Tesco shop from 1997 today - the price increase was sickening'

'I tried to buy a £27 Tesco shop from 1997 today - the price increase was sickening'While the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens to send food prices soaring, a 29-year-old Tesco receipt has emerged to remind us of a time when £30 could fill your basketCommentsMoneyNiamh Kirk Features Writer and Emma Mackenzie Features Writer07:30, 19 Apr 2026View 6 ImagesI went to Tesco to replicate a 1997 shop to see how the prices have changed(Image: Supplied)We’re all feeling the squeeze of the cost-of-living crisis, but a viral blast from the past is putting our current grocery agony into sharp perspective.‌A 1997 Tesco receipt that has gone viral online features prices that feel impossible by 2026 standards - and with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatening to send bills even higher, the good old days have never felt further away.‌The original shopper walked away with a full basket for just £26.27. Today, the average UK household is shelling out upwards of £120 a week to keep the cupboards filled.‌I visited my local Tesco supermarket to see if I could recreate that 1997 shop, and the results left me feeling sickened. From 65p Weetabix soaring to £3.50, and cooking oil jumping from 53p to a staggering £3.00, my receipt nearly quadrupled to a whopping £62.70.As Tesco boss Ken Murphy warns that the Iran war is creating "further uncertainty" for our wallets, walking the aisles and looking for bargains feels a lot harder than it used to be.READ MORE: Experts warn of 'worryingly high' food price rises as bills increase by £470Murphy said it was "impossible to speculate" how much food inflation could rise by because of the fall out from soaring energy costs due to the conflict. It follows reports that Britain risks facing shortages of chicken, pork and other supermarket supplies this summer if the Iran war drags on.‌While Tesco remains one of the more budget-friendly options on the high street, this 29-year-old receipt goi...