How the inflation rate for everyday food and beverages has changed

A slowdown in inflation in many everyday foods and beverages, including cheese and rice, helped offset an acceleration in energy price inflation, keeping the overall rate unchanged.

There was a sharp decline in average prices for coffee, which rose by only 0.8% in the year to January 2024, compared to an increase of 11.9% in the year to December 2023. There were also sharp declines in sauces and herbs (up 11.5% in January compared to 18.4% in December), frozen vegetables (up 11.5% compared to 16.2%) and mineral water (up 10.7% compared to 14.2%).

Other products saw a more moderate decline, including cheese (up 2.5 percent in the year to January compared to 5.1 percent in the year to December), margarine and other vegetable fats (up 0.2 percent compared to 2.2 percent), rice (up 6.4 percent compared to 7.9 percent) and tea (up 10.6 percent compared to 11.3 percent).

However, inflation continues to rise for a small number of food items.

The average price of pasta and couscous rose 10.8 percent in the year to January, compared with a rise of 6.6 percent in the year to December, while fruit and vegetable juices rose 12.2 percent, up from 10.4 percent a year earlier, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Inflation also rose for two staple foods: eggs rose 7.2 percent in January, compared to 6.8 percent in December, and yoghurt rose 9.9 percent, compared to 8.6 percent in December.

At the same time, a few products continue to experience negative inflation, meaning their prices are falling year after year.

The average price of whole milk fell by 10.0 percent in January compared to the same period last year, a slightly smaller decline than the 11.0 percent decline in December.

Similarly, the average cost of butter fell 7.8 percent year-on-year, a smaller decline than the 8.4 percent decline in December.

The price of low-fat milk fell by 6.1 percent in the period to January, the same as in the period to December. The price of jam, marmalade and honey fell by 1.1 percent, a slightly larger drop than the 0.9 percent decline in December.

Below is a list of examples of how the consumer price index inflation rate for food and beverages has slowed or accelerated, sorted by the magnitude of the change.

For each item, two numbers are listed: the average price increase over the 12 months ending December 2023, followed by the average price increase over the 12 months ending January.

– Examples of a slowdown in inflation:

Coffee: Dec. +11.9%, Jan. +0.8%
Olive oil: December 45.8%, January 38.2%
Sauces, spices and herbs: Dec. 18.4%, Jan. 11.5%
Frozen vegetables except potatoes: Dec. 16.2%, Jan. 11.5%
Mineral or spring water: Dec 14.2%, Jan 10.7%
Sugar: Dec 21.3%, Jan 18.0%
Cheese and curd: Dec. 5.1%, Jan. 2.5%
Potatoes: Dec. 9.6%, Jan. 7.1%
Fresh or chilled fish: Dec 7.2%, Jan 5.2%
Margarine and other vegetable fats: Dec 2.2%, Jan 0.2%
Ice cream and ice cream: Dec. 10.8%, Jan. 9.2%
Rice: Dec. 7.9%, Jan. 6.4%
Fresh or chilled vegetables except potatoes: Dec. 10.7%, Jan. 9.4%
Pizza and quiche: Dec. 5.1%, Jan. 4.0%
Chips: Dec. 11.8%, Jan. 10.8%
Ready meals: Dec 6.0%, Jan 5.2%
Tea: Dec. 11.3%, Jan. 10.6%
Meat: Dec 7.2%, Jan 6.6%
Fresh or chilled fruit: Dec 6.7%, Jan 6.6%
Bread: Dec. 2.2%, Jan. 2.1%

The story continues

– Examples of accelerating inflation:

Pasta and couscous: Dec. +6.6%, Jan. +10.8%
Cocoa and chocolate powder: Dec. 22.2%, Jan. 25.1%
Fruit and vegetable juices: Dec. 10.4%, Jan. 12.2%
Yogurt: Dec. 8.6%, Jan. 9.9%
Eggs: Dec. 6.8%, Jan. 7.2%
Dried vegetables: Dec. 5.1%, Jan. 5.4%
Canned fruit: Dec 2.7%, Jan 3.0%
Dried fruits and nuts: Dec. 10.3%, Jan. 10.6%
Chocolate: Dec. 9.8%, Jan. 10.0%