Food inflation accelerated strongly to 12.4% in November, up from 11.6% in October. This is above the 3-month average rate of 11.5%. This is the highest inflation rate in the food category on record.
The figures from the British Retail Consortium also showed that Shop Price annual inflation accelerated to 7.4% in November, up from 6.6% in October.
This is above the 3-month average rate of 6.5% and marks another record for shop price inflation since this index started in 2005 while Fresh Food inflation strongly accelerated in November to 14.3%, up from 13.3% in October.
Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
“Winter looks increasingly bleak as pressures on prices continue unabated. Food prices have continued to soar, especially for meat, eggs and dairy, which have been hit by rocketing energy costs, and rising costs of animal feed and transport. Coffee prices also shot up on last month as high input costs filtered through to price tags. Christmas gifting is also set to become more expensive than in previous years, with sports and recreation equipment seeing particularly high increases.
“While there are signs that cost pressures, and price rises, might start to ease in 2023, Christmas cheer will be dampened this year as households cut back on seasonal spending in order to prioritise the essentials. Retailers continue to do all they can to support their customers and ensure everyone can enjoy the festive season by fixing prices of many essentials, offering discounts to vulnerable groups, raising pay for their own people, and expanding their value ranges.”
Mike Watkins, Head of Retailer and Business Insight, NielsenIQ, said:
“With prices still rising, the cost of Christmas will be higher this year and shoppers will be managing their budgets more closely than at any time since the start of cost-of-living crisis. Retailers are now responding by offering seasonal savings and price cuts and will be hopeful of an uptick in shopper spend as we move into December.”
