The Food and Drink Federation responds to ONS inflation figures for December 2021

Karen Betts, Chief Executive at the FDF, said:

“Today’s inflation shows food prices up by 4.5%, the highest rise in nearly ten years. Food producers have been hit hard by significant inflationary pressures, from rising ingredient and logistics costs to an increase in energy prices and labour issues, as firms compete for workers in a tight labour market.

“Producers continue to do what they can to avoid passing these costs on, but the increases in food prices reported today shows how hard that is in the current context.  These rises will hit families hard, with the cost of oils & fats up 13.1%, vegetables up 6.0% and meat up 4.4%.

“Upcoming regulation is likely to compound this situation further, as set out in FDF’s Prices Report, making good collaboration between government and industry critical in the coming weeks and months."

For information, please contact press.office@fdf.org.uk 020 7836 2460.