Family food bills rise as shop price inflation hits 0.7%

Shop price inflation rose to 0.7% in July, up from 0.4% in June, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The latest figures from the Shop Price Monitor, which was formerly known as the Shop Price Index, show inflation running above the three-month average of 0.3%.

Food inflation reached 4% in July, compared with 3.7% in June. Fresh food prices increased by 3.2%, while ambient food – such as tinned and packaged goods – rose 5.1%. Non-food prices fell 1%, a slower decline than the 1.2% recorded in June.

According to Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, families would have “seen their food bills increase as food price inflation rose for the sixth consecutive month”.

Dickinson said: “Staples such as meat and tea were hit the hardest as wholesale prices for both categories have been hit by tighter global supplies. This has helped push up overall shop prices.

“There were a few bright spots, with discounts in fashion and furniture offering consumers a chance to refresh their wardrobe and homes.”

She added: “If the government wants to support struggling families, it must think carefully about the next Budget. Retailers are doing everything possible to protect their customers from the worst of the inflationary pressures, but the £7bn cost to retail of last year’s Budget forced most retailers to raise prices. Further tax rises will ultimately hurt households, locking in inflation and forcing people to pay higher prices to put food on the table.”

Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at NIQ, said: “Consumers’ household budgets are coming under pressure with the food retailers now seeing price increases above CPI. However, price competition helped by promotional activity will still mean that shoppers can save money by shopping around.

“With inflation on the up, high street retailers will also be concerned about customer retention over the summer holiday season if they are to maintain sales momentum.”