Following the release of this months inflation forecasts, our CEO Dan Slatter shares the Inside View on what these rates really mean:
1 in 7 UK adults live with the daily reality of food insecurity or, even worse, hunger. The price of food matters to all of us, we are all noticing how the price of cupboard staples have dramatically increased over the past few years. However, for too many people whose finances are already on a knife edge, constantly rising prices are frankly terrifying.
The Food & Drink Federation (FDF) has recently released forecasts for food inflation in the UK for the next 12 months. Compared with recent predictions, the picture is mixed. Earlier forecasts warned that food inflation could reach eye-watering double digits by the end of the year. The latest FDF forecast paints a lower, but still worrying, picture, with inflation expected to reach 3.9% by the end of 2026.
Sadly, that is not expected to be the peak. Food inflation is forecast to continue rising, reaching 6.4% in summer 2027. The timing could hardly be worse. This prolonged period of pressure stretches through the winter months, when households are already facing higher energy costs and often have to divert more of their income towards keeping warm, while seasonal growing conditions limit the availability of fresh produce.
While the latest forecast is flatter than previous predictions, it still points to a much longer period of sustained pressure. For people who are already overstretched, this means even more impossible choices between essentials – particularly as energy prices are set to rise again from October.
At FareShare Sussex & Surrey, we remain deeply concerned by these forecasts. They reinforce the importance of resilient regional infrastructure that gets good surplus food to where it can make a real difference. Every day, our staff and volunteers work alongside local communities, helping to protect and strengthen this infrastructure at a time when it matters more than ever.