Vegetable shortages pushed food prices to their highest rate in more than 45 years as UK inflation unexpectedly shot up last month. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 10.4 per cent in February from 10.1 per cent in January.
Most economists were expecting it to fall to 9.9 per cent in February. The surprise jump in inflation comes after food and non-alcoholic drinks prices rose by 18 per cent year-on-year last month. This was up from 16.7 per cent in January and the highest since August 1977.
The ONS said price inflation of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose higher to 18.3 per cent from 16.8 per cent. Shortages of vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers in recent weeks were largely behind the rocketing food inflation.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “Falling inflation isn’t inevitable, so we need to stick to our plan to halve it this year”. Stewart Hosie, SNP economy spokesman, said: "Inflation increasing again is a stark reminder of the lack of support given by the Chancellor in the Budget to tackle the cost of living crisis.
"He failed to provide real support to help households pay for their energy bills. He removed the £400 energy support and failed to reduce the already sky-high price cap. Jeremy Hunt has plunged those on the lowest incomes further into the Tory-made cost of living crisis whilst giving tax breaks to the wealthiest.
"The Budget failed on all levels and the people of Scotland are paying the price for economic incompetence, the only way we can escape the chaos of Westminster control is by becoming an independent country."
The latest data showed that soaring prices of drinks in pubs and restaurants also drove inflation higher. Inflation overall in restaurants and cafes stood at 11.4 per cent last month. This was up from 9.4 per cent in January and is the highest since December 1991.
ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner said: “Inflation ticked up in February mainly driven by rising alcohol prices in pubs and restaurants following discounting in January.
“Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose to their highest rate in over 45 years with particular increases for some salad and vegetable items as high energy costs and bad weather across parts of Europe led to shortages and rationing. These were partially offset by falls in the cost of motor fuel, where the annual inflation rate has eased for seven consecutive months.”
February’s rise sees inflation climb back up having been steadily edging lower after peaking at an eye-watering 11.1 per cent in October last year.
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