UK food inflation at 45-year high, hitting 19.1% in March

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.