08:42 BST
Tom Espiner
Business reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesFood price rises, along with energy, tend to be the ones that people notice hitting them the most – mainly because many of them are pretty unavoidable.
The pace of food and non-alcoholic drink price rises was 4.5% in the year to June – the highest rate since February 2024.
This ratcheting up of the rate comes after a steep spike in price rises that started in June 2021 and peaked in June 2023, before falling off again.
In June, bread and cereals – particularly cakes – were up, along with meat, and milk, cheese and eggs – mainly cheddar cheese.
The rise in June was part of a “concerning trend in 2025” says Balwinder Dhoot, director of sustainability and growth at the Food and Drink Federation.
“The pressure on food and drink manufacturers
continues to build,” he says.
“With many key ingredients like chocolate, butter, coffee,
beef, and lamb climbing in price – alongside high energy and labour expenses –
these rising costs are gradually making their way into the prices shoppers pay
at the tills.”