Grocery costs inflation reached a excessive of 17.1 per cent final month, with the quickest rises recorded in necessities comparable to milk, eggs and margarine.

The rise in meals prices within the 4 weeks to February 19 would add a possible £811 to annual procuring payments, in response to the info gathered by Kantar, the market researcher.

The stress is just not restricted to meals objects, with non-food inflation rising to a file of 5.3 per cent in February, a separate index by the British Retail Consortium and NielsenIQ exhibits.

The excessive costs of power and working prices for corporations, in addition to harder buying and selling situations caused by the battle in Ukraine, have led retailers to push up costs, in response to Helen Dickinson, the consortium’s chief government. The largest value rises amongst non-food objects had been for gardening instruments and pet meals.

General inflation in store costs rose to eight.4 per cent in February, up from 8 per cent in January. The largest rise was recorded in contemporary meals, which rose to 16.3 per cent, up from 15.7 per cent in January.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and client perception at Kantar, stated: “This February marks a full yr since month-to-month grocery inflation climbed above 4 per cent. That is having a huge impact on individuals’s lives.”

He stated its analysis confirmed that grocery costs inflation was the second most vital monetary concern for the general public behind power prices, with two thirds of individuals involved by food and drinks costs, above public sector strikes and local weather change. “One quarter say they’re struggling financially, versus one in 5 this time final yr. The numbers converse for themselves.”

Though client costs inflation has been falling — down from a peak of 11.1 per cent in October to 10.1 per cent in January — family incomes are underneath stress not solely from larger meals costs but additionally from cuts in authorities help on power payments and rising mortgage prices.

Kantar stated gross sales of own-label merchandise had been up by 13.2 per cent in February, properly forward of the expansion in branded merchandise of 4.6 per cent. It stated grocery gross sales had elevated by 8.1 per cent over the 12 weeks to February 19, masking a drop in volumes when accounting for inflation.

The information was revealed as supermarkets face shortages of fruit and greens. Kantar stated the scarcity, brought on by provide chain points, was not captured in its newest knowledge however it could comply with the impression on gross sales within the coming weeks.

The figures had been boosted by Valentine’s Day. Steak gross sales rose by 1 / 4 within the seven days to February 14 in contrast with the earlier week, glowing wine gross sales doubled and customers spent an additional £5 million on boxed goodies.

Gross sales of chilly remedies rose by 82 per cent final month, with cough liquids up 78 per cent and cough lozenges 70 per cent larger.

Aldi and Lidl, the German-owned discounters, had been once more the fastest-growing grocers, partly due to retailer openings, with gross sales up 26.7 per cent and 25.4 per cent, respectively. Aldi’s market share rose to 9.4 per cent and Lidl’s to 7.1 per cent.

Gross sales at Tesco, the market chief with a 27.3 per cent share, rose by 6.6 per cent, with Sainsbury’s up 6.2 per cent and Asda up 5.9 per cent. Morrisons was the one grocery store to report a fall in gross sales, down 0.9 per cent.

Chatting with MPs on the Commons’ enterprise choose committee yesterday, Caroline Keohane, head of trade development coverage on the Meals and Drink Federation, stated: “We predict meals costs inflation to stay for a while and having that price stress.”