I’m Vanessa, Chief Charity Officer at Loveworks Food Bank, and I want to speak frankly about what the latest inflation data means — and what we must do together.
According to new figures announced today:
• Grocery inflation in the UK is running at about 5 %, with food and non-alcoholic drink prices up 5.1% year-on-year. *
• Staples like meat, eggs, butter, coffee and fresh produce are showing steep increases, butter alone has risen 18.9% **
• Overall inflation remains near 3.8%, meaning many households are feeling squeezed on multiple fronts.
At 3.8% inflation, a product which cost £10 a year ago would cost £10.38 now.***
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What this means in real life for you and I:
• Families already struggling with tight budgets face impossible choices: buy less, buy cheaper, or go without, impacting quality of family life and health.
• Community food services, charities and foodbanks like ours are seeing demand rise, especially as we enter the colder months with higher energy bills.
• Living costs rising faster than incomes deepen inequality — a household that was just about managing can tip into crisis.
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What we are doing — and what we ask from you:
✅ We are increasing our support to people hit hardest: more food parcels, more incentives and working with other charities to ensure support gets to where it is needed.
🤝 But it’s not something any one charity can solve alone. We need:
• Government policies that protect affordability of essentials.
• Food retailers and suppliers to consider their pricing and how cost burdens are passed on.
• Public support — donations, volunteering, raising awareness.
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If you can, please help spread the word. If you’re able, support your local food charity. If you struggle yourself, ask for help — you are not alone. We’re in this together.
Vanessa
* (Reuters+3Office for National Statistics+3The Guardian+3
** The Guardian+2The Guardian+2)
***Financial Times+1.
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