Food prices have soared by 30% in past 2 years

Food prices have soared by 30% in the last two years, the biggest rise on record, according to Liberal Democrat analysis of new official statistics.

The 30% two-year rise in the Office for National Statistics’ index of food prices between July 2021 and last month dwarfs the previous record of 19.3% between February 2007 and February 2009, at the height of the financial crisis.

The average price of a loaf of bread has gone up by 52p (27%) in the last two years, while a pint of milk is up 24p (57%), according to ONS figures.

The Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats are calling for urgent UK government action to protect shoppers from rising prices.

Commenting, local Lib Dem campaigner Grant Toghill said: 

“The UK Conservative Government has failed people on food inflation. This Government should be standing up for struggling families and pensioners hammered by soaring food prices. 

“Yet this out of touch Government seems happy to stand by as millions struggle just to pay for the weekly shop with no clear plan to tackle rising food prices. 

"People across Renfrewshire can tell each week how their cost of their shopping just keeps going up with many struggling to afford what they need.

“Liberal Democrats want to see the government cracking down on anyone profiteering - from supermarkets to food multinationals - and helping local farmers and traders hit by costly red tape, so people get the fair deal they deserve.”