UK food price inflation hits highest level since global financial crash

Fresh food rose by 10.5%, an increase not seen since 2008, adding to pressure on families already struggling to cope with the cost of living. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The rapidly rising price of food including milk, margarine and crisps pushed August shop price inflation to the highest levels since 2008 as the war in Ukraine raised costs for farmers.

Prices in shops rose by 5.1%, a big increase from 4.4% in July, as food producers passed on increases in the cost of fertiliser, wheat and vegetable oils, large amounts of which are produced in Ukraine and Russia, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and market research firm NielsenIQ.