UK overall inflation remains at 3.8% in August, but food price growth climbs for fifth month in a row - business live

"Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: Food price inflation is once again up, after the hottest spring and summer on record has hit UK farmers ability to grow crops and feed their animals, with the UK again facing one of its worst harvests in decades. Although this extreme weather will only be part of the story in these price rises, the signature of climate change is clear."

"And it's not just British grown foods such as beef, milk and vegetables that are rising, but also prices for food and drink like chocolate and coffee too, both driven up by extreme weather linked to climate change. Central banks are clear that climate change increases food prices in ways they cannot control or predict, creating systemic risk to our food system. There is no monetary policy lever they can pull to address this."

"Food prices rose for the fifth month in a row after the hottest spring and summer on record which damaged harvests to an annual rate of 5.1%, up from 4.9% in July and the highest since January. Vegetables, milk, cheese and fish became more expensive, while bread and cereals and oil and fats became cheaper. Air fares rose by less than last year. Ticket prices were up by 2.1% between July and August, compared with a rise of 22.2% at this time last year."

Food price inflation increased for the fifth consecutive month as the hottest spring and summer on record damaged UK harvests and reduced farmers' ability to grow crops and feed animals, contributing to one of the worst harvests in decades. Extreme weather linked to climate change has raised prices for domestic goods such as beef, milk, vegetables and for imported items like chocolate and coffee. Central banks warn that climate-driven food price rises create systemic risks that fall outside monetary policy control. Annual food inflation reached 5.1% in August, with vegetables, milk, cheese and fish becoming more expensive, while bread, cereals and oils eased.

Read at www.theguardian.com