Price of vegetable oil up by 68% as rising household food costs revealed
The new data should be a ‘siren warning’ to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, charities have warned (Picture: Getty Images/Metro.co.uk)The costs of essential foods – such as bread, pasta and milk – have ‘soared’ over the last year, new figures show.
Data, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, detail how essential supermarket items have risen by nearly two-thirds.
While the average price tag on pasta used to stand at around 38p, the price has now jumped to 61p – an increase of 59.9%.
Other essentials such as bread, tea, milk and tea have also skyrocketed in price.
Store cupboard staple vegetable oil has jumped in price by a massive 65.2% – up from £1.56 to £2.58.
However, this rise is partially due to the supply-chain problems caused by the war in Ukraine.
Statisticians from the ONS collected more than a million prices from supermarket websites over the past year to crunch the figures.
Rishi Sunak has been urged to take immediate action as Prime Minister to prevent people facing their ‘toughest challenges’ yet amidst the cost of living crisis.
Alison Garnham, of the Child Poverty Action Group, said the new figures should be a ‘siren warning’ to new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Charities have urged Rishi Sunak’s Government to ensure benefits match inflation (Picture: PA)She told Metro.co.uk: ‘These are grim figures for millions of hard-pressed families and they are a siren warning to the new Government – the pledge our new prime minister made to uprate benefits with inflation must be honoured if low income households are to get through this winter.
‘Six hundred thousand London children are already living in poverty. More will join them if the Government reneges on the promise to ensure benefits match inflation.
‘That would make us a country and a capital filled not with hope as the PM envisages, but with hungry children.’
Rachel Bull, head of policy and research at the Trussell Trust, warned that foodbanks are already struggling to cope with demand.
Average price of lowest-priced grocery items, September 2021 to September 2022
Vegetable oil: 65.2% (£1.56 up to £2.58)
Pasta: 59.9% (38p to 61p)
Tea: 46% (67p to 97p)
Chips: 38.7% (99p to £1.37)
Bread: 37.6% (48p to 66p)
Biscuits: 34.4% (40p to 54p)
Mixed frozen vegetables: 31.9% (76p to £1)
Milk: 29.4% (£1.17 to £1.52)
Crisps: 23.7% (73p to 91p)
Tomatoes: 19.3% (48p to 57p)
Instant coffee: 18.8% (£1.31 to £1.55)
Sausages: 18.3% (89p to £1.05)
Onions: 18% (63p to 75p)
Apples: 17.2% (83p to 97p)
Baked beans: 16.2% (30p to 34p)
Potatoes: 13.2% (94p to £1.06)
Fish Fingers: 13.1% (76p to 87p)
Tomato ketchup: 12.1% (58p to 65p)
Breakfast cereal: 10.6% (69p to 76p)
Cheese: 10.4% (89p to 98p)
Chicken breast: 10.1% (£3.30 to £3.63)
Ham: 9.9% (£1.60 to £1.78)
Bananas: 7% (73p to 78p)
Fruit squash: 6.7% (48p to 51p)
Yoghurt: 6.6% (55p to 58p)
Pizza: 3.2% (84p to 87p)
Rice: -0.2% (remained at 89p)
Granulated sugar: -0.3% (remained at 66p)
Beef mince: -7.4% (decreased from £2.20 to £1.95)
Fruit juice orange: -8.9% (decreased from 83p to 76p)
In August and September 2022 food banks in the Trussell Trust network had distributed 46% more emergency food parcels than the same period in the previous year.
Ms Bull told Metro.co.uk: ‘Across the UK people are struggling with the impact of inflation on the soaring cost of living, but there is no doubt that people on the lowest incomes are facing the toughest challenges.
‘For the first time food banks are telling us that need for emergency food is outstripping donations for food parcels as the cost of living crisis leads to a drastic increase in the number of people forced to turn to charity for support.
‘We know it doesn’t have to be this way, the UK Government has shown that the right support, at the right time, can help people out of hardship.
Food banks up and down the UK have seen demand for services soar (Picture: Yorkshire Post/SWNS)‘That’s why we’re urgently calling on them to do what’s right and provide a package of support directly targeted at people on the lowest income to support them through this challenging time. Beyond this, we want to see a long term commitment that benefit rates will always be enough to afford the essentials.’
Food banks are preparing for the busiest and toughest winter yet as the cost of living crisis tightens across the country.
They expect to distribute more than 1.3 million emergency food parcels over the next six months – more than half a million of these parcels will be for children.
Speaking on today’s figures, Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy, said the rise in supermarket essentials could lead to children skipping meals.
She added: ‘It is therefore essential that people get the support that they need from businesses, as well as the government, during this very difficult time.
‘Supermarkets have a crucial role to play in supporting their customers through the difficult months ahead.
‘They should ensure budget lines for affordable essential items are widely available across their stores, so that people can easily compare the price of products to get the best value and that promotions are targeted at supporting people most in need.’
The ONS today also published separate data showing that 72% of people with prepayment energy meters are finding it difficult to pay their bills.
A protester takes part in ‘energy bill burning’ during a Enough is Enough rally in Birmingham to protest against rising energy bills (Picture: PA)A survey also found that seven in 10 (69%) of black adults are finding it difficult to afford their energy bills, compared to just 44% of white adults. The survey showed that 59% of Asian adults were struggling with energy bills.
The figures show over half (55%) of disabled adults reported finding it difficult to afford their energy bills and around a third (36%) found it difficult to afford their rent or mortgage payments – compared with 40% and 27% of non-disabled people respectively.
National statistician Sir Ian Diamond said: ‘Figures from our near real-time survey of people show that while rises in food and energy costs are affecting many people across the country, those who are disabled, from certain ethnic minority backgrounds and renters are among those struggling the most.
‘With rises in the cost of living at the forefront of many people’s minds, our new, almost real time, data showing just how prices are changing and shining a light on how different groups are affected have never been more important.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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