Morrisons has cut the price of a popular kitchen essential, helping it climb the supermarket rankings and become the third-cheapest retailer in this week’s comparison. The supermarket has reduced the price of a 250g block of salted butter by 13p, from £1.98 to £1.85, matching Aldi’s price.

Aldi remains the cheapest supermarket this week, with a basket of eight everyday essentials costing £12.99. Lidl follows in second place at £13.11, while Morrisons has moved up two positions to third at £13.19. The comparison by Manchester Evening News includes bread, milk, butter, coffee, tea bags, beans, chicken and beef mince, using the cheapest products available at each supermarket.

Morrisons’ price cut was the biggest change in this week’s basket. Asda’s salted butter, meanwhile, increased by 1p from £1.98 to £1.99.

That left the supermarkets ranked as follows: Aldi at £12.99, Lidl at £13.11, Morrisons at £13.19, Sainsbury’s at £13.23, Asda at £13.33 and Tesco at £13.50.

At Aldi, shoppers can currently pick up an 800g loaf of bread for 55p, two pints of milk for £1.20 and a 250g block of salted butter for £1.85. Its basket also includes coffee at £2.09, 160 tea bags at £1.65, beans at 27p, chicken at £2.29 and 500g of mince at £3.09.

Morrisons’ equivalent basket includes the same 55p loaf and £1.20 milk, while its coffee costs £2.30 and 160 tea bags £1.64. Its butter is now £1.85, chicken works out at £2.29 for 300g and mince costs £3.09.

The findings are based on a comparison of selected products and do not necessarily reflect the overall cost of shopping at each supermarket.

Sainsbury’s has previously argued that a review of a limited number of products does not represent the full value available to its customers.

Asda has also said it offers strong value across the products families buy most, while Morrisons has said it remains committed to keeping prices competitive.

Aldi has questioned whether some of the products used in the comparison are directly comparable, pointing to differences in product sizes and quality.

The latest figures show just how quickly supermarket rankings can change when the price of a single everyday item moves.

For shoppers looking to keep their weekly grocery bills down, the 13p reduction at Morrisons has been enough to push the supermarket ahead of Sainsbury’s, Asda and Tesco in this week’s basket comparison.