In March 2025, the inflation rate for food prices in the United Kingdom was measured at three percent. A period of continuous deflation between March 2015 and January 2017 preceded a return to a sustained rise in the cost of food from February 2017 onwards. While food prices were deflating between September 2020 and July 2021, they started increasing rapidly from August 2021 to March 2023. The inflation rate started to decline from April 2023. Inflation rate and consumer price indexInflation is commonly measured via the consumer price index, which illustrates changes to prices paid by consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. An annualized percentage change in the price index constitutes a measure of inflation. In order to maintain an inflation rate at a stable level, to enable the general public and businesses to plan their spending, the Government set a two percent inflation target for the Bank of England. The discounter boom The increase in food prices in the United Kingdom has shifted shopping behaviours amongst consumers. Value is now key and shoppers are changing their retailer loyalties. Aldi, the German discount supermarket retailer, overtook Morrisons as Great Britain's fourth largest supermarket in September of 2022. Aldi's market share reached double digits for the first time in April 2023. It is yet to be seen if Lidl, Aldi's discounter competitor, can also continue to rise up in the ranks and eventually take over Morrisons as the fifth leading food retailer.

When surveyed in October 2024, some ** percent of respondents in the United Kingdom stated that they expected grocery prices to increase. This figure initially increased from the start of the survey period in September 2021 and peaked at ** percent in June and October 2022.

Cost of food in the United Kingdom increased 4.50 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 124.9 points in January 2025, down 2.1 points from December 2024. The highest value for the index in the past 23 years was reached in March 2022. However, the rate of food price increases has been decreasing since.

Food prices worldwide The annual FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) by category shows that the price of vegetable oils grew by a particularly large margin. One of the factors that influenced the spike in oil prices worldwide during 2020 and 2021 were the supply-chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, after the war in Ukraine, shipping costs and grain prices also had a noticeable impact on global food prices. Global food prices are calculated to have increased by 3.68 percent, due to changes in shipping costs and grain prices. The European Union (EU) has experienced a particularly high increase in the annual consumer prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, as compared to other selected countries worldwide. Inflation in Europe

The inflation rate for food in the EU grew from 0.2 percent in May 2021 to 19.2 percent in March 2023, as compared to the same month in the previous year. In the following months, the food inflation started decreasing again, reaching 1.86 percent in April 2024. The overall inflation rate in the Euro area reached its peak in December 2022 at 9.2 percent. The rate has since fallen to 2.4 percent in December 2024. As measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), inflation rates in Europe were highest in Turkey, North Macedonia, and Romania as of December 2024.

This dataset provides values for FOOD INFLATION reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The price per unit in the 'Pet Food' segment of the food market in the United Kingdom was forecast to continuously increase between 2025 and 2030 by in total *** U.S. dollars (+***** percent). After the tenth consecutive increasing year, the price per unit is estimated to reach **** U.S. dollars and therefore a new peak in 2030. Notably, the price per unit of the 'Pet Food' segment of the food market was continuously increasing over the past years.Find more information concerning Worldwide and Mexico.The Statista Market Insights cover a broad range of additional markets.

According to a June 2022 global survey, most e-shoppers reported rising prices for groceries being an issue while online shopping. Nearly ** percent of shoppers in Brazil stated that increased food prices influenced their shopping behavior, while South Korea had the second-highest number of respondents reporting the issue, at ** percent.

Online food market Worldwide, China is home to the largest online food delivery market by revenue. In 2022, China's online food delivery market was valued at roughly *** billion U.S. dollars. The online food delivery market in the United States ranked second, with almost *** billion U.S. dollars in revenue. The United Kingdom (UK) and India were among the leading countries, with ** billion and ** billion U.S. dollars, respectively. While China leads in revenue, online food delivery penetration is the highest in the UK. In 2022, almost three-quarters of UK shoppers purchased meals via the internet, whereas only slightly more than half of Chinese consumers had done the same.

Inflation hits grocery prices The impact of inflation on food prices can be seen throughout the world. In the United States, it has adversely affected online grocery since June 2021. For instance, year-on-year inflation for groceries stood at **** percent in October 2022. Consumers in the UK are the most worried about rising food prices. In November 2022, eight out of ten UK shoppers expected grocery prices to rise further in the following months. In Europe, shoppers are changing their grocery purchasing habits due to inflation. Half of Europeans are trying private-label brands, and ** percent are straying from their go-to brand. As a result of inflation, ** percent are now shifting away from brick-and-mortar stores to online grocery shopping.

In December 2024, the inflation rate for food in the European Union (EU) reached 2.4 percent compared to the same month the year prior. Starting in the beginning of 2022, food prices started to rise rapidly. In March 2023, the food inflation rate in the EU reached its peak at 19.19 percent. Since April 2023, the rate started to decrease. Food inflation in Europe One of the main drivers of the increase in consumer prices was the rapid rise in energy prices. In the energy sector, the harmonized index of consumer prices inflation of the EU, a concept to measure and compare inflation internationally, was at 41.1 percent in June 2022, whereas the other categories were all below 10 percent. In Germany, the year-on-year consumer price index development for food and beverages was at 12.33 percent in the year 2023, just a slight dip from the all-time high of 12.51 percent in 2022. By 2024, this had dropped to 1.92 percent. There are a number of ways in which European consumers are trying to save on food costs due to rising prices. The most popular way to deal with the rising food prices is to reduce at-home food waste. An average of about half of consumers in selected European countries stated that this is how they responded to the price increases. Other popular ways were to buy only the essentials or to purchase mostly store brands. Food inflation worldwide In 2022, Europe and Central Asia were the regions with the highest food inflation rates worldwide. The rate of food inflation in those regions was about 18 percent in 2022, which is more than twice as high as it was in the previous year. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the food inflation rate rose from 5.4 to 11.9 percent during the same period. When categorized by income classification, low-income countries have significantly higher food price inflation, as compared to lower-middle-, upper-middle-, and high-income countries. On average, low-income countries had a food price inflation rate of about 30 percent in 2023. The world average rate was at 6.5 percent. Zimbabwe was the country with the highest level of real food inflation worldwide. The southern African country experienced a food inflation of approximately 46 percent in 2024. This was more than two times as high as in any other country in the world.

The performance of the hospitality sector, consumer spending habits and supermarket demand are the key factors affecting the Grocery Wholesaling industry. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2% to £44.2 billion, including an anticipated hike of 0.7% in 2024-25. Inflation has played a big role in the industry’s recent performance. Food prices reached record highs in March 2023, with the Office for National Statistics reporting they climbed by 19.3% over the year, primarily due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Consumers responded to sky-high prices by trading down and eating out less, denting sales to supermarkets and hospitality venues; still, rising prices kept revenue growing. Food inflation has since fallen considerably, paving the way for growth in consumer confidence. However, food prices rose by 3.3% in the year to January 2025. While this is much lower than the peak in March 2023, food inflation had been trending downward in previous months (October to December 2024). High prices have limited sales volumes and increased the rate of wholesale bypass. Revenue is slated to swell at a compound annual rate of 2% over the five years through 2029-30 to £48.7 billion. As inflation stabilises, pressure on household finances will ease and boost consumer confidence. According to the Bank of England's projections in February 2025, inflation will rise to 3.7% at the end of Q3 2025, before easing slowly back to its target 2% in Q4 2027. This recovery will raise grocery sales, particularly in the hospitality sector. At the same time, consumers will trade up to higher-priced, healthier and sustainably sourced products, boosting revenue and profit. However, threats remain; wholesale bypass, the rise of farmers markets and rising demand for fresh, healthy products will continue to present challenges to grocery wholesalers, eating into sales. Upcoming hikes in the National Living Wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions are set to drive up wholesalers’ costs, hindering profitability.

Measures of monthly UK inflation data including CPIH, CPI and RPI. These tables complement the consumer price inflation time series dataset.

In October 2024, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food and non-alcoholic beverages in the United Kingdom (UK) reached 136.5, slightly up from the previous month. Consumer price indices are designed to measure changes in the price of everything consumers buy. More information on CPI can be found here.

Key information about United Kingdom CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change

• United Kingdom CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change was reported at 3.269 % in Jan 2025.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 1.999 % for Dec 2024.
• United Kingdom CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change data is updated monthly, averaging 2.067 % from Jan 1989 to Jan 2025, with 433 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19.174 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of -3.349 % in Feb 2015.
• United Kingdom CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: CPI: Food and Non Alcoholic Beverage: Y-o-Y Growth: Monthly.

The falling number of births in the UK has negatively impacted the market for baby food products, but other dietetic food products have performed well. Growing health consciousness has boosted demand for slimming foods and other dietetic products. Similarly, more people going to gyms and fitness centres have boosted sales of supplement products for fitness enthusiasts, like meal replacement blends and protein bars. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is anticipated to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.9% to £1.9 billion, driven by solid demand for dietary foods for special medical purposes. The industry faces high input costs for specialised ingredients. Rising competition and the expansion in low-cost alternatives from large discount supermarkets have placed downward pressure on prices, limiting the ability of producers to pass on cost increases to downstream markets and weighing on profitability. However, rising health consciousness and a surge in people seeking to improve their well-being have driven sales. The success of specific product segments, including meal replacement foods, has encouraged more companies to enter the industry. Existing companies have seized upon opportunities provided by e-commerce, investing heavily in online marketing to reach a broader customer base and boost online sales. Industry revenue is expected to climb 2.3% in 2025-26. The industry is set to continue growing, with revenue projected to rise at a compound annual rate of 4.3% over the five years through 2030-31 to reach £2.4 billion. Rising exports, especially to developing Asian economies, will help compensate for EU export losses. Sports participation boosts orders of sports supplements, including protein bars and meal replacement blends. In addition, demand for dietary foods for special medical purposes will continue to grow due to the ageing UK population. Sales of higher-margin products are expected to support future profit growth.

Estimates from the voluntary fortnightly business survey (BICS) showing the impacts of energy price rises on accommodation and the food service activities and other industries.

Grocery markets' performance is sensitive to the level of household disposable income, health consciousness, environmental awareness and competition from other grocery retailers like supermarkets. Health consciousness and environmental awareness are ever-growing, with individuals more concerned about the provenance of their food. Organic, sustainable and local products are growing in popularity and boosting revenue as consumers are happy to pay a premium for higher-quality goods with traceable production. Grocery markets experienced a 45-year high in food price inflation in 2023, with similar rises in the cost of domestic and imported food inputs, placing significant pressure on stall operators' purchase costs. Local councils, faced with tight budgets, raised the price of pitch rents, adding to the operational costs of stall operators. A combination of these two things and depressed purchasing power among shoppers led to a drop in sales volumes. In 2024-25, revenue is forecast to grow by 0.4%, supported by growth in consumer confidence. Over the five years through 2024-25, industry-wide revenue is anticipated to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.3% to £370.8 million, supported by growing spend on premium products like artisan bread and organic meats, as real wages recover. Looking forward, supermarket competition will continue to rise. Grocery markets must find innovative ways to boost their competitiveness by improving the shopping experience, like subscription-type models, speedy delivery or personalised services and expanding the product range. Grocery markets' revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 9.7% to reach £589.1 million over the five years through 2029-30.

The inflation rate for food and drink in the United Kingdom was ****percent in the second quarter of 2025, which was above the overall inflation rate for that quarter.

Over the five years through 2024-25, online food ordering and delivery platforms revenue is anticipated to rise at a compound annual rate of 15.2%. Meal stipends and sales from commercial markets are rising as workers return to the office and the workload increases. Time-poor consumers increasingly turn to food ordering and delivery platforms for convenient, quick and high-quality food.Growing demand from food outlets has enabled platforms to expand their food range. In particular, restaurants and takeaways have joined online food platforms to gain access to a broader consumer base and greater exposure with little additional expenditure. Nevertheless, platforms continue to face numerous challenges, primarily in the form of pricing pressures, employment litigation and waning demand as consumer confidence stumble, despite inflation dropping. However, the ultra-rapid grocery segment offers a degree of relief. In 2024-25, revenue is expected to grow by 5% to £3.8 billion, while the average industry profit margin is slated to be 6.3%.Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.9% to reach £4.4 billion. Increasingly busy consumer lifestyles will continue to raise demand and convenience will remain king. Demand from restaurants and takeaways is anticipated to follow an upward trajectory as food outlets seek the benefits of increased exposure and wider market reach at little extra cost. The range of cuisines and products will remain important and platforms can boost interest by targeting niche markets and personalising content. More members of Gen Z will enter the workforce and become a significant source of spending power.

The UK inflation rate was 3.6 percent in June 2025, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since January 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent, respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.