UK Food Prices
Track food inflation, grocery costs, and how food prices compare with wages
The Food CPI measures changes in prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased by UK households. It includes groceries, takeaway food, and drinks (excluding alcohol).
The annual inflation rate shows the percentage change compared to the same month last year. This helps show whether food prices are rising, falling, or stable relative to a year ago.
Food Price Index
Official ONS measure of food and drink price changes (2015=100).
Food Inflation Rate
Year-on-year percentage change in food prices.
Food Prices in Context
How do food price changes compare with overall inflation, energy costs, and wage growth? These comparisons help assess food affordability and cost drivers over time.
Food vs Overall Inflation
Is food inflation higher or lower than the overall rate? When food inflation exceeds CPI inflation, groceries are becoming relatively more expensive.
Compare food price changes with overall consumer price inflation.
Food vs Energy Prices
Energy costs (electricity, gas) affect food production, processing, and storage. Both indices use 2015=100 as their base, making direct comparison meaningful.
Compare food prices with household energy costs (both 2015=100).
Food vs Motor Fuel Prices
Fuel prices affect the entire food supply chain - from farm machinery to supermarket deliveries. When fuel prices rise sharply, food prices often follow.
Compare food prices with petrol/diesel costs (both 2015=100).
Food Affordability
How do food prices compare with wages, rent, and house prices? These comparisons help assess whether food is becoming more or less affordable over time.
Food Prices vs Wages
Both food prices and wages are rebased to 100 at a common starting point to compare relative growth.
If the food line rises faster than wages, food is becoming less affordable. If wages rise faster, food is becoming more affordable relative to income.
Compare food price growth with wage growth (rebased to common index).
Food vs Rents vs House Prices
Compare how the major household costs have changed relative to each other. All three are rebased to Jan 2015 = 100 for meaningful comparison.
Compare relative growth of food, rental, and property costs since 2015.
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) MM23 Consumer Price Inflation dataset.
Series codes used:
- D7BU - Food and non-alcoholic beverages CPI index (2015=100)
- D7G8 - Food and non-alcoholic beverages annual inflation rate
The CPI measures price changes for a representative basket of goods. Food CPI includes groceries, takeaway food, and non-alcoholic beverages. The index is set so that prices in 2015 equal 100.
Wage data: Average Weekly Earnings (KAB9) - Total pay including bonuses, seasonally adjusted.