UK food inflation: Which items have increased in price?

·3-min read
Food and drink costs have risen at the highest rate in almost 45 years  (PA Wire)
Food and drink costs have risen at the highest rate in almost 45 years (PA Wire)

High food prices are remaining in the UK with inflation at its third-highest level since the financial crisis put further strain on the British consumer.

Latest research from analytics firm Kantar has shown that groceries are rising in price by 17.2 per cent. At only two other points has the rate of grocery inflation been higher since the 2008 crash.

In previous research, analysis by Which? found food prices have doubled in the past year with with meat, vegetables, and yoghurt among the worst-affected products.

Jeremy Hunt is scheduled to meet food manufacturers on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

The Kantar research follows on from the Resolution Foundation announcing that food prices would continue to rise even as energy costs are set to fall.

Mr Hunt said: “High food prices are proving stubborn so we need to understand what’s driving that.

“That’s why I’m asking industry to work with us as we halve inflation, to help ease the pressure on household budgets.”

Which food items have doubled in price?

Morliny Frankfurters at Asda increased from an average of £1.25 to £2.42, a rise of 93.8 per cent, while four brown onions at Morrisons rose from 65p to £1.24, an increase of 90.8 per cent.

Lancashire Farm Natural Bio Yoghurt 1kg increased by 85.3 per cent, rising from £1.18 to £2.18. The price of Aberdoyle Dairies Natural Cottage Cheese 300g at Lidl increased by 100.9 per cent, from an average of 67p to £1.34.

Meanwhile, a 260g of own-brand salmon tails at Tesco went from £3 to £4.54, reflecting a rise of 51.4 per cent.

Which food items have increased the most in price?

Dairy products, particularly cheese, milk, and yoghurts, are among those that have increased the most, according to Which?

The following items are the food categories that have become more expensive, according to quarterly inflation to the end of April 2023.

  • Cheese – 25.4 per cent

  • Milk – 24.2 per cent

  • Yoghurts – 21.0 per cent

  • Butters and spreads – 23.5 per cent

  • Water – 19 per cent

  • Cakes and cookies – 19.0 per cent

  • Bakery – 20.2 per cent

  • Juice drinks and smoothies – 16.1 per cent

  • Crisps – 17.6 per cent

  • Biscuits – 17.1 per cent

  • Fish – 15.6 per cent

  • Savoury pies, pastries and quiches – 17.6 per cent

  • Cereals – 15.5 per cent

  • Vegetables – 14.6 per cent

  • Chocolate – 13.8 per cent

  • Meat – 14.3 per cent

  • Chilled ready meals – 13.8 per cent

  • Fizzy drinks – 12.5 per cent

  • Energy drinks – 10.3 per cent

  • Fresh fruit – 9.7 per cent

Which supermarkets have seen prices rise the most?

Which? found that Lidl and Aldi had seen the highest rates of inflation, rising by 24.9 per cent and 22.9 per cent respectively.

Morrisons’ annual inflation for one month to the end of April 2023 was 18.4 per cent, while Asda’s was 17.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s saw inflation rates of 14.7 per cent and Tesco saw rates of 14.5 per cent.

Waitrose and Ocado saw the lowest levels of inflation, at 13.1 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.