By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - Food inflation in the UK hit a 45-year high of 19.1% in March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Wednesday.
The latest inflation report revealed that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices saw their highest rate of inflation in over 45 years, up from 18% per year in February.
The cost of food alone surged 19.6%, with notable increases in the prices of bread and cereal, meat, fish, milk, eggs, olive oil, vegetables, and fruit.
Bread and cereal prices jumped 19.4%, while meat prices were up 17.4%.
Whole milk prices rose 37.9%, while eggs climbed 32%.
The price of olive oil ballooned 49.2% compared to last year due to supply disruptions caused by the Ukraine war.
Additionally, vegetable prices rose 19.3% and fruit prices 10.6%.
The ONS said that the last time food prices were this high was in August 1977, when inflation was estimated at 21.9%.
But it also reported a slight easing in the UK's cost of living crisis, with a drop in the annual consumer prices index to 10.1% in March from 10.4% in February.
Although this suggests some relief for consumers who have been struggling with high prices, the figure is still in double digits and higher than expected.