February dip sends UK food price inflation to nearly two-year low

Shoppers helped by falling energy costs and supermarket competition as meat, fish and fruit prices drop

Tumbling energy costs and a price war between Britain’s supermarkets have slowed food inflation to its lowest rate for nearly two years in a boost for households trying to cope on stretched budgets.

The cost of meat, fish and fruit dipped in February, meaning food prices rose 5% on last year, down from 6.1% in January and the lowest since May 2022, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shop price index.