Food prices increased at their fastest rate since 2013 in March
The weekly supermarket shop hit bank accounts a little harder last month as food prices rose at their sharpest rate in five years in March.
Food inflation accelerated last month to 2.5 per cent, up from 1.6 per cent in February. This is the highest inflation rate November 2013.
The data out today from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) cited poor weather hitting UK crops and as well as global commodity prices as the reason behind the jump.
Fresh food inflation accelerated to 1.9 per cent in March, up from 1.7 per cent in February.
Ambient food inflation picked up in March, prices increasing by 3.4 per cent, a large jump on February’s rate of 1.5 per cent. This is the highest inflation rate since February 2013.
Across all goods on the high street, shop price inflation accelerated in March to 0.9 per cent, up from 0.7 per cent in February.
This is the highest inflation rate since March 2013, but has been diluted by the downward trend in prices for clothing and technology goods.
Mike Watkins, the head of retailer and business insight at Nielsen, said: "The upwards pressure on pricing continues across food retailing and a key driver this month was inflation in ambient food and drink.
"With shoppers looking to stretch their budget for the weekly groceryshop this will not help volume growth, which has been slowing since the start of the year".