Charlotte EdwardsBusiness reporter, BBC News
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Food inflation fell, according to the latest figures
Food and drinks prices in the UK are increasing at their slowest rate in more than a year, while overall inflation remains unchanged for the third month in a row.
Month-on-month, the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks actually edged down slightly in September – the first fall since May 2024. The ONS said this was likely to have been driven by increased sales and discounting by retailers.
The UK inflation rate for all items remained stable at a lower-than-expected 3.8% in the year to September, official figures show.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was “not satisfied with the numbers” on inflation, while shadow chancellor Mel Stride said it was “pushing up the cost of living”.
Elaine Doran/BBC
Kayleigh Brannan said she has noticed the price of meat going up
The inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic drinks was down to 4.5% for the year to September from 5.1% in the year to August.
This means the price shoppers pay for groceries and non-alcoholic drinks is still going up, just more slowly than before.
But between August and September this year, the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks overall actually fell by 0.2% – the first fall for 16 months.
The drop was driven by slightly cheaper vegetables, milk, cheese and eggs, bread and cereals, fish, mineral waters, soft drinks and juices.
However, the cost of specific items such as red meat and chocolate continued to rise.
Kayleigh Brannan, a mother to baby Hadley, told the BBC she had noticed the price of meat rising in particular, and that now Hadley has started eating solid foods, she expected her expenses would be going up.
“It’s not too bad at the moment but you can see the prices going up,” she said.
She added: “The maternity pay is not enough. You’ve still got the same bills, you’ve still got to pay the mortgage… obviously you have more pressure then.”
Britain’s inflation rate was also 3.8% in July and August, according to the ONS,
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