The cost of a pint of milk has jumped by nearly a fifth in a year

The cost of a liter of milk rose by about a fifth annually, one of the largest price increases among the daily purchases that go into the family budget. This is according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which checks the average prices of a number of goods in the supermarket.

This includes meat, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other necessities common in anyone’s weekly shop. In February, the average price of a liter of milk was 49p, up 7p (17%) from 42p a year earlier.

This was close to the strongest increase for 45 food and beverage products compared to the price data included in the ONS numbers. The only relatively larger increase was in 100-125 grams of pork, which increased by 18 percent from 93 1.93 to 27 2.27.

Oranges rose from 32 to 37 (16%), while instant coffee rose from 2.68 pounds to 3.08 pounds per 100 grams (15%). The cost of lamb, ground beef and fresh tomatoes rose about 14% year over year through February. The vast majority of goods (35) became more expensive during this period, while three remained at the level, while seven decreased slightly.

The average price of 800 grams of whole wheat bread was 1.05 pounds in February, down 6 pounds (5%) from the previous year, although similar white bread increased 12 pounds (11%) to 1.26 pounds. The ONS analysis also includes some common non-food products. The price of heating oil was halved (49%) to 695.71 pounds per thousand liters, reflecting the increase in energy prices. And 20 large packs of cigarettes weighed 12.43 pounds, 11.44 pounds more than the previous year, a 9% increase.

It comes after the Office for National Statistics revealed that the main CPI measure of inflation – the rise in prices of goods and services – reached 6.2% on an annual basis in February, the fastest rate in the past three decades. Total food prices increased by 4.9 percent, while the price of soft drinks increased by 6.7 percent.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Spring March 23 statement updated information on the economy in which he announced a series of measures that the government hopes will reduce life crises for families across the country. This included raising the minimum national insurance people pay from 12,570 yen since July and lowering fuel taxes by 5p per liter.

“This statement puts billions back into people’s pockets in the UK and provides the largest personal tax cut in a quarter of a century,” Sunak said.

But the Food Foundation said the government had failed to come up with a plan to protect disadvantaged families and ensure that everyone had adequate food. “In recent months, food and fuel prices have risen at an alarming rate and now the invasion of Ukraine will increase the pre-existing life crisis to a very high level on a larger scale, which will pay many more,” said Shauna Goody, the charity’s head of political research. of families at risk of food insecurity.

The announced measures are simply insufficient, particularly for groups most vulnerable to food insecurity, such as families with children and families with universal credit.

“Families who cannot eat well or heat their homes will have a devastating effect on their health, both physically and mentally, and will make it impossible for the government to realize its ambition to increase healthy life expectancy.”

“We are aware of the pressure people face on the cost of living, which is why we will provide $22.2 billion to support this fiscal year and beyond,” a government spokesperson said.