Days of shop price deflation 'numbered' as food prices pick up, says BRC
By Benjamin Chiou
Date: Tuesday 29 Apr 2025
(Sharecast News) - Overall shop prices in the UK fell in April compared with last year, though the rate of the decline eased as food inflation picked up on the back of rising labour costs.
Shop prices were 0.1% lower than last April, following a 0.4% decline in March, according to the British Retail Consortium's shop price index released on Tuesday.
Non-food prices were down 1.4% over last year, as deflation slowed from -1.9% in March.
Meanwhile, food prices were 2.6% higher than last year, after growing by 2.4% in March, reaching its highest rate in 11 months.
According to Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, "the days of shop price deflation look numbered".
"Everyday essentials including bread, meat, and fish, all increased prices on the month. This comes in the same month retailers face a mountain of new employment costs in the form of higher employer National Insurance Contributions and increased National Living Wage," she said.
Meanwhile, Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business insight at NielsenIQ, which works with the BRC to publish the monthly data, said retailers will be looking to mitigate price increases seen across supply chains.
"Whilst we expect consumers to remain cautious on discretionary spend, the late Easter will have helped to stimulate sales," he said.
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN