A BASKET of essential groceries now costs on average £18.21 in Dumfries and Galloway.
That’s the findings of Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service (DG CAS), who have launched their eagerly awaited cost of living report.
It followed up on previous research, in 2014 and 2017, which focused on the cost of a basket of essential groceries across the region.
The 2024 report also included a review of the cost of road fuel, as well as the cost and frequency of public transport.
The report found that the average basket price in Dumfries and Galloway in 2024 was £18.21, 18.8 per cent more than in 2017, when the average was £15.33.
Basket prices varied from the cheapest at £11.92 to the most expensive at £26.98. Variation in price depended on the location and type of shop.
Jane Flanagan, fundraising development officer and author of the report, said: “A key finding or the research showed the unnecessary variation in pricing across the major supermarkets in different locations.
“It demonstrated that although smaller stores tend to charge more as a result of higher costs to themselves to bring in the produce, they lie at the heart of their communities, offering accessibility and additional ‘lifeline’ services to the benefit of residents.”
Commuting also presents challenges to residents. Although almost 30 per cent of workers in the region now work from home, the rest do not.
High commuting costs not only impact on people’s employment, but also on their access to services and social opportunities. This situation is exacerbated by lower than national average incomes and high travel distances.
DG CAS chief executive, Phil Stewart said: “The report really confirms what we already knew that there is a rural premium that has a major impact on rural poverty across Dumfries and Galloway.
“I hope that the report’s recommendations, addressing rural poverty and choices for consumers and commuters, will receive support from local, Scottish and UK government, as well as retailers and transport companies.”
A digital copy of the report can be found on the DG CAS website at www.dagcas.org.
Above . . . Dumfries and Galloway CAS chief executive Phil Stewart with a copy of the cost of living report
