The price of fresh food has risen 15 per cent last month in comparison to last year, recent studies have shown. The increase means that prices have hit their highest level since the British Retail Consortium (BRC) began reporting the data in 2005.
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The news comes as inflation shows no sign of slowing and figures show that households have been reducing their food spending according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), as per the Daily Mail.
‘Challenging Christmas’
Further research from the ONS revealed huge increases across meat, fish, dairy, fresh fruit and vegetables as people struggled to maintain a healthy diet.
The BRC explained how food price inflation caused price increases across the board, as food went up from 12.4 per cent in November to 13.3 per cent in December, with milk showing one of the biggest annual jumps of 48.9%
BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson commented, as per the Daily Mail:
It was a challenging Christmas for many households across the UK. Not only did the cold snap force people to spend more on their energy bills, but the prices of many essential foods also rose as reverberations from the war in Ukraine continued to keep high the cost of animal feed, fertiliser and energy.
2023 will be another difficult year for consumers and businesses as inflation shows no immediate signs of waning.
Government protection
New pressure on retailers is expected as government protection for business’s energy bills is scheduled to end on April 1. This could initiate further price increases as retailers pass on the cost to consumers. Head of Food Policy at Which? Sue Davies, commented:
It is absolutely essential that households get the support they need from the Government and businesses during the cost of living crisis.
Supermarkets must ensure budget lines for healthy and affordable essential items are widely available across their stores. Promotions should be targeted at those most in need and people supported so they can easily compare the price of products to get the best value.
Sources used:
- Daily Mail 'Fresh food prices jump 15 per cent to hit record high as the cost of shopping soars and retailers warn inflation shows no sign of slowing'
