UK inflation fell in April, but food inflation remained at an all-time high as prices of essentials peaked.
The overall inflation index fell from 10.1% in March to 8.7% in April, according to the latest consumer price index (CPI) figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation remained flat at 19% from 19.1% in March, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco inflation increased to 9.1% from 5.3% last month.
This comes after the latest grocery price inflation data from Kantar showed UK food price inflation to be at the third-highest level since the financial crisis in 2008.
Clothing and footwear inflation fell to 6.8% in April compared with 7.2% last month.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Consumers will welcome the fall in headline inflation and, while food inflation figures remain high, we are starting to see the price of some essentials begin to come down, including milk and butter, as lower commodity and energy prices begin to filter through.
“Clothing and footwear price inflation also eased for the second month in a row as retailers introduced their spring discounts. However, even as inflation eases consumers should not expect prices to return to their 2021 levels.
“With food inflation looking like it may be peaking, the government should avoid creating unnecessary new regulatory burdens that might put this at risk.
“From new packaging costs and a deposit return scheme, to new Windsor framework labelling and food advertising regulations, the government would do well to minimise the cost impact of new policy initiatives.”
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