Food inflation up third month in a row: comment

Commenting on data from the Office for National Statistics showing that food price inflation has risen for the third month in a row [1], Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “As food prices rise again, concern turns to the impact that the current extreme heat and record breaking dry spring could have on food prices in the near future, with farmers already concerned about the possible impact on this years harvest [2].

"We know that extreme weather linked to climate change has played a key role in driving food price inflation recent years, increasing the cost of an average household shop by £361 in 2022 and 2023 [3], and research also shows that farmers are increasingly concerned about the impact of extreme weather. [4] 

"Food price rises linked to climate change pose a systemic risk to inflation [5]. In this context, net zero targets and policies can be seen as a key tool to keep a lid on this escalating risk and the only guaranteed way of limiting the impact of climate change on our weekly shop."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. UK inflation unexpectedly jumps to 3.6% as food prices rise again: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4g89vqp8p4t 

2. Harvest on a ‘knife edge’ after record breaking spring – analysis: https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/harvest-on-a-knife-edge-after-record-breaking-spring-analysis 

3. Climate, Fossil Fuels and UK Food Prices: 2023: https://eciu.net/analysis/reports/2023/climate-fossil-fuels-and-uk-food-prices-2023

4. Farmer confidence battered by climate change – new research: https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/farmer-confidence-battered-by-climate-change-new-research 

5. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250713~631b265757.en.html# 

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net