The price of meat and poultry inflation fell for the second consecutive month in March, according to the latest report from the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS).

The data found that the average price of pork increased by 0.7 per cent, while the cost of beef and lamb went down by 1.64 per cent and 0.92 per cent, respectively.

There was an overall 0.89 per cent decrease in meat prices during the month despite the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Additionally, the price of chicken was unchanged at an average of £4.63 kg, and there was “price stability which consumers and government have been wanting to see in shopping baskets after 2025’s large increases.”

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

Tony Goodger, head of communications at AIMS, said: “Across the last twelve months prices for beef, lamb, pork, and chicken have risen by 7.95 per cent, driven by all cuts within the beef fixture. (+15.81 per cent), whilst pork and chicken, both of which are seen as proteins consumers have switched to during fast-paced food inflation, have by and large maintained near price parity.

“With the war in the Middle East now starting to impact the four F’s of farming (feed, fertiliser, fuel and finance), costs of production and processing will increase whilst inventories in the supply chain reduce.”

Goodger stated that moving forward there will be additional pressure on consumers due to steep increases to fuel, feed and fertiliser, which will be passed down along the supply chain.

The trade association said the Government and poultry and egg production businesses need to plan ahead to ensure food security amid the increasing severity of the conflict in the Middle East.