How’s the UK Doing?UK economic statistics, explained
How’s the UK Doing?

How fast are food prices rising?

How fast food and soft drink prices are rising

1.3%

in the 12 months to August 2026

Same as July 2026

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low −2.4%10-year high 19.1%
Published
Next update
in 10 days

Recent figures may be revised.

Food inflation

August 2026 · 1.3%, down 3.8 percentage points on a year earlier

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each year is the average of the monthly 12-month rates. It is not the rise in prices over that year. 2026 so far covers January to August.

Each month is that month's figure, not a total so far. 2026 so far covers January to August.

Source: Office for National Statistics

What this means for people

A faster rise means the weekly food shop costs more than a year ago.

This is the food and non-alcoholic drinks part of the Consumer Prices Index. Alcoholic drinks sit in another part of the basket.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
PeriodValue
August 20261.3%
July 20261.3%
June 20261.7%
May 20262.2%
April 20263.0%
March 20263.7%
February 20263.3%
January 20263.6%
December 20254.5%
November 20254.2%
October 20254.9%
September 20254.5%
Each year is the average of the monthly 12-month rates. It is not the rise in prices over that year.
YearPeriod coveredValue
2026 so farJanuary to August2.5%
2025January to December4.2%
2024January to December2.7%
2023January to December14.7%
2022January to December10.8%
2021January to December0.3%
2020January to December0.7%
2019January to December1.4%
2018January to December2.1%
2017January to December2.2%
2016January to December−2.4%
Each month
Period2023202420252026 so far
January16.7%6.9%3.3%3.6%
February18.0%5.0%3.3%3.3%
March19.1%4.0%3.0%3.7%
April19.0%2.9%3.4%3.0%
May18.3%1.7%4.4%2.2%
June17.3%1.5%4.5%1.7%
July14.8%1.5%4.9%1.3%
August13.6%1.3%5.1%1.3%
September12.1%1.9%4.5%
October10.1%1.9%4.9%
November9.2%2.0%4.2%
December8.0%2.0%4.5%

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How to read this

Food and soft drinks

This covers food and non-alcoholic drinks. Alcoholic drinks, energy and other shopping sit in the wider index.

Compared with a year ago

Food prices here are set against the same month a year before. A move since last month is a different comparison.

Not the 2% target

The Bank of England's 2% aim is for the whole basket. Food can rise faster or slower than that aim.

One household shop

The basket averages the food and soft drinks people buy. A household that buys different items can see a different rise.

Source

Publisher
Office for National Statistics
Official title
CPI annual rate, food and non-alcoholic beverages
Series
D7G8
Geography
United Kingdom
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Office for National Statistics (2026) CPI annual rate, food and non-alcoholic beverages, in the 12 months to August 2026 (series D7G8).