Food prices have increased by 14.5% since last year as inflation returned to the 40-year high it hit earlier this summer.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index inflation reached 10.1% in September, compared with 9.9% in August. It was above the expectations of economists, who had predicted a figure of 10%.
The figure matches the 40-year high inflation hit in July and remains well above the Government's target of 2%. The increase was driven by food prices, leaping by 14.5% compared with the same month last year, representing the largest annual rise since 1980, according to data modelling.
