UK food prices were 2.9% higher in October 2026 than a year ago, according to new figures released on Tuesday 27 October.
That’s up from 2.5% in September, with cupboard and packaged foods seeing the biggest increase in their annual inflation rate.
For someone spending £100 a week on groceries last year, a 2.9% rise would mean paying around £2.90 extra for the same shopping.
It might not sound much, but across a year, those extra costs soon add up.
Which food prices are rising?
The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NIQ Shop Price Monitor shows:
- Food inflation rose to 2.9%, up from 2.5% in September.
- Cupboard and packaged food inflation increased to 3.2%, up from 2.2%.
- Fresh food inflation stayed at 2.6%.
The biggest change was in what’s known as ambient food. This means food that can be stored at room temperature, such as tins, pasta, rice and cereals.
These are examples of the type of food covered, rather than a list of products that have all increased in price. Some items will have gone up more than others, while some may be cheaper.
There’s also an important difference between annual inflation and prices changing from one month to the next.
Although the annual food inflation rate increased, average food prices were unchanged between September and October, according to the BRC’s monthly figures, rounded to one decimal place.
So, food prices haven’t suddenly jumped by 2.9% in a single month. They’re 2.9% higher than they were in October 2025.
The figures are based on prices collected between 1 and 7 October 2026.
What does a 2.9% rise mean for your food bill?
Here’s what the increase could look like for three different weekly shopping budgets.
| Weekly shop last year | At 2.9% more | Extra per week |
|---|---|---|
| £60 | £61.74 | £1.74 |
| £100 | £102.90 | £2.90 |
| £150 | £154.35 | £4.35 |
If you were spending £100 a week, that’s an extra £150.80 over 52 weekly shops.
These are examples, not actual supermarket basket comparisons. We’ve applied the average 2.9% annual increase to each budget, assuming you buy exactly the same food in the same quantities.
The yearly example assumes 52 shops at those prices. It isn’t a prediction of what prices will do over the next year.
Your own shopping bill could have changed by more or less.
Skint Dad says:
The problem with rising food prices is that many families have already made the easy savings.
If you’re buying own-brand food, planning meals and watching what you spend, being told to cut back even more isn’t particularly helpful.
I’d concentrate on checking the price of things you buy regularly and making small changes where you can.
But there’s a limit to how much anyone can cut their food bill. We shouldn’t lose sight of that when talking about percentages and rising prices.
Three things worth checking before your next food shop
You might already be doing some of these, but they’re worth checking, particularly if you haven’t compared prices for a while.
1. Check five things you buy regularly
Start with cupboard essentials such as pasta, rice, cereal and tinned food.
Look at what you normally pay, then compare it with a cheaper own-brand or budget alternative.
Check the price per 100g or kilogram rather than just the price on the shelf. A bigger packet or a special offer isn’t always better value.
You don’t need to change everything. Even finding a cheaper alternative for one or two things you buy every week could help.
2. Compare the cost of your usual shopping list
Before changing supermarkets, pick around 10 things you buy regularly and compare their prices.
Our latest cheapest supermarket guide shows how Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Asda and other major supermarkets compare.
But the cheapest supermarket overall won’t necessarily be the cheapest for your family.
And travelling across town to save a few pence might not be worth it once you’ve paid for petrol or bus fares.
3. Use what you’ve already paid for
Before writing your shopping list, have a look through your cupboards, fridge and freezer.
Can you make a couple of meals using what you’ve already got?
Planning around food you need to use up can help avoid buying things twice and reduce what gets thrown away.
We’ve got more practical ideas in our guide to saving money on groceries, including meal planning, supermarket offers and ways to make your food budget go further.
