Food prices rose this month for the first time since March, bumped up by higher transport costs, labour shortages and “Brexit red-tape”.
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which has repeatedly sounded the alarm over the “months-long cost pressures”, food inflation has hit 0.1 per cent.
However, this is below the 12-month average price increase of 0.2 per cent.
While BRC boss Helen Dickinson admitted that costlier food was “inevitable”, she called on ministers to “minimise the impact on consumers”.
READ MORE: One in six unable to buy essential food items in past two weeks, ONS reveals
“Government needs to find a long-term solution to the HGV driver shortage by expanding the size and scope of the new visa scheme for drivers,” she said.
Boris Johnson recently u-turned on his opposition to haulier visas, having previously joked that he “doesn’t want to… cancel Christmas again”.
He will issue 5000 visas until 24 December to avoid food shortages during the festive season.
Some, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, argue the move will do little given Britain’s shortfall of 100,000 drivers.
Click here to sign up to Grocery Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
