Consumers must brace for further price rises, BRC warns

The British Retail Consortium has warned that consumers can expect further rising prices as inflation continues to accelerate in the UK. 

It found that Shop Price annual inflation accelerated to 2.7% in April, up from 2.1% in March, which was above the 12- and six-month average price increases of 0.4% and 1.5%, respectively. This also marked the highest rate of inflation since September 2011.

Meanwhile, food inflation hit 3.5% in April, up from 3.3% in March, again above the 12- and six-month average price growth rates of 1.3% and 2.6%, respectively. This was also the highest inflation rate since March 2013.

Non-food inflation accelerated to 2.2% in April, up from 1.5% in March. This was above the 12- and six-month average price decrease of 0.1% and increase of 0.9% as well as the highest rate of inflation since the data series began in 2006.

Fresh Food inflation slowed over the period however, decelerating to 3.4%, down from 3.5% in March. Nonetheless, this was the second highest inflation rate since March 2013.

Helen Dickinson OBE, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The impact of rising energy prices and the conflict in Ukraine continued to feed through into April’s retail prices. Non-food products, particularly furniture, electricals and books, have seen the highest rate of inflation since records began. 

“This has been exacerbated by disruption at the world’s largest seaport, following Shanghai’s recent lockdown. Food prices continued to rise, though fresh food inflation slowed as fierce competition between supermarkets resisted price hikes on many everyday essentials.”

She added: “Global food prices have reached record highs, seeing a 13% rise on last month alone, and even higher for cooking oils and cereals. As these costs filter through the supply chain, they will place further upward pressure on UK food prices in the coming months. 

“Retailers will continue to do all they can to keep prices down and deliver value for their customers by limiting price rises and expanding their value ranges, but this will put pressure on them to find cost-savings elsewhere. Unfortunately, customers should brace themselves for further price rises and a bumpy road ahead.”

Mike Watkins, head of Retailer and Business Insight, NielsenIQ, said: “Inflation shows no signs of abating and the increase in non-food prices is an extra challenge for the high street as fragile consumer confidence and rising living costs are likely to negatively affect consumer spending. 

“With food retailing no longer immune to these pressures, supermarkets are reacting by cutting the prices of some everyday grocery products including private label to help limit shop price inflation.”