Food bills more than £800 higher than a year ago, as inflation heaps more misery on Brits

28 March 2023, 15:20 | Updated: 28 March 2023, 15:22

Supermarkets are seeing better footfall but Brits are still struggling under the weight of 17.5% food price inflation
Supermarkets are seeing better footfall but Brits are still struggling under the weight of 17.5% food price inflation. Picture: Getty

By Chay Quinn

Food price inflation has added an extra £800 to Brits' annual food bill, new figures claim.

Retail experts at Kantar said that food price inflation has reach an all-time high of 17.5% in the 12-week period ending March 19 and this has led to the eye-watering hike for everyday families.

The average Brit's shopping basket for the same goods a year ago was £837 cheaper than it was today - with Knatar saying that consumers are switching to cheaper stores such as Aldi and Lidl to cut back their bills.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “It’s more bad news for the British public, who are experiencing the ninth month of double-digit grocery price inflation.

Budget retailers like Aldi and Lidl have seen customers switching to them en-masse to save on their food baskets
Budget retailers like Aldi and Lidl have seen customers switching to them en-masse to save on their food baskets. Picture: Getty

Read More: Ocado sees shoppers continue cutting back as food inflation yet to peak

"However, shoppers are taking action and clearly hunting around for the best value.

"Footfall was up in every single grocer this month, with households going to the shops just over four times per week in March. Apart from Christmas, that’s the highest frequency we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic.”

Food price inflation is one of the factors which drove last week's shock rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline rate of inflation in Britain.

This shock was contrary to forecasts and led to more mortgage misery for homeowners as the Bank of England hiked interest rates by a quarter of a percent to 4.25% to counter inflation.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

King Charles in Dubai

Charles to tell world leaders 'the Earth does not belong to us' at Cop28 as he 'prays for action on climate'

Israel Palestinians

Israel announces resumption of combat in Gaza Strip as truce with Hamas expires

Parts of the UK are set to see 5cm of snow on Friday

Brits to get 5cm of snow in wintry blast as temperatures plummet to -10C, after schools close

The IDF said fighting had resumed

Israel-Hamas restarts as truce deadline expires, after IDF intercepts missile fired from Gaza

Released prisoner

Israeli military confirms release of six more hostages in Gaza Strip

Rishi Sunak will call for an "era of action" on the climate

Sunak to call for 'era of action' on climate at Cop28 - despite watering down green measures at home

Omid Scobie has insisted he never sent out a book including two royals' names amid racism allegations

Dutch translator on Omid Scobie's Endgame insists she was sent manuscript with two royals' names in race row

Lloyds banking group is closing more branches in 2024.

Lloyds group to close 45 branches as Labour pledges to keep banks back on the high street - is your local affected?

Hall and Oates

Hall and Oates row: Judge extends pause on Oates’ sale of stake in business

Hamas has claimed Israel is refusing to take back the bodies of the Bibas family

Hamas releases propaganda video of father of 10-month-old Kfir Bibas saying Israel refuses to take his family's bodies

Police clashed with Legia Warsaw fans

Three officers injured as Polish football fans unleash 'planned and systematic violence' on police ahead of Villa game

William and Kate dazzled on the red carpet as they brushed off Scobie's claims

William and Kate all smiles on red carpet as royals brush aside storm around Omid Scobie's book Endgame

Opec sign

Saudi Arabia extends cut in oil it sends to world in bid to boost prices

Exclusive
An 18-month row over pay, job security and conditions has come to an end, for now

'Provoke us again and we will respond in kind': Mick Lynch issues new threat to government after pay deal halts strikes

Matt Hancock appeared at the Covid inquiry on Thursday

Cummings a 'malign actor' and 'missed opportunities': 11 revelations from Matt Hancock's Covid inquiry appearance

Phillip Hancock

Man executed in Oklahoma over double killing in 2001