UK Food Prices Rise 3.7% in June Amid Hot Weather, Inflation

UK food price inflation accelerated to 3.7% in June, up from 2.8% in May, driven primarily by hot, dry weather that reduced crop yields and pushed up the cost of fruits and vegetables. This marks the first overall rise in shop price inflation in nearly a year, with total shop prices increasing 0.4% year-over-year after a decline in May. Retailers have attributed the increase not only to climate change impacts but also to higher taxes and employment costs, including a significant rise in the national minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions. The British Retail Consortium highlighted soaring wholesale prices for seasonal fruits such as gooseberries, blackberries, and raspberries. UK farmers have warned that increasingly volatile weather, including drought and wet planting seasons, has caused substantial crop losses, with climate breakdown likely to cause more frequent extreme weather events. These developments reflect a growing link between geopolitical tensions, climate crisis effects, and rising consumer prices in the UK.