Food prices have soared 50% in just five years as the cost-of-living crisis bites

Published: 00:01, 4 May 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 4 May 2026 Food prices are on course to have risen by a staggering 50 per cent in just five years. Analysis suggests that the 'grim milestone', expected to be reached in November, will match the price rises in food seen in the 20 years prior to 2021 – the start of the cost-of-living crisis. Extreme weather driven by climate change, global supply disruptions, and exposure to volatile oil and gas markets have compounded pressures on the food system, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think-tank said in its report. Staples, including pasta, frozen vegetables, chocolate, eggs and beef – all up between 50 per cent and 64 per cent – and olive oil, up 113 per cent, have seen some of the steepest rises, reflecting their sensitivity to oil and gas prices and synthetic fertiliser costs. These forces pushed household food bills up by an average of £605 over 2022 and 2023.  Energy shocks accounted for £244 of this. The cost of butter, milk, beef, chocolate and coffee have risen four times faster than other food and drink. Chris Jaccarini, food and farming analyst at the ECIU, said: 'Trump's war in the Middle East is set to drive shopping bills higher as oil and gas prices spike.  Food prices are on course to have risen by a staggering 50 per cent in just five years Pictured: Products in the trolley at the Sainsbury's store on Cromwell Road in West London Your browser does not support iframes. 'Scientists are predicting 2027 to be the hottest year on record with climate change combining with the El Nino effect.  'Three of England's worst harvests on record have been in the past five years.' Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said the projected 50 per cent price rise 'leaves families on the lowest incomes with nowhere left to cut except the food on their plate'. She added: 'When that happens, people skip meals, children go hungry, and diet-related illness rises – piling pressure on the NHS.  'The question for Government isn't just how to respond to this crisis, it's whether we're going to build a food system resilient enough to withstand the next one.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.