Soaring food and fuel prices pushed the benchmark Consumer Prices Index up 3.8 per cent in June compared with 3.3 per cent in May – almost double the Bank of England’s inflation target.

The ONS reported that inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to an annual rate of 9.5 per cent in June, compared with 7.8 per cent in May.

Food inflation alone climbed to 10.6 per cent, from 8.7 per cent in May.

The Retail Prices Index also rose, to 4.6 per cent, from 4.3 per cent the previous month, the Office for National Statistics reported.

Along with food, inflation was pushed up by fuel. Further big upward contributions came from photographic equipment – the price of digital cameras fell by less than last year – and DVDs, games and toys.

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